Why reframing the mind and dopamine fasts are so critical

Day 7 - 1/26

I can't believe I have gone this long with hardly any arousal. Then again, lately my trigger has been porn so that explains why I am not as aroused. I couldn't get it up without it. Even when I am not in the mood porn always did it. Although, this is usually the hardest time to get through.

Porn really messes with your brain, let me tell you. The constant quick hits of dopamine, even when done a few days apart like I had, changes the mind for the worse. From procrastination to lack of motivation, this isn't the life I want. It got to the point where I dropped a class because I was sheer out of motivation to do it. The work wasn't hard but I have just down regulated my dopamine receptors to the point where only quick hits would do it.

I can't entirely blame this all on porn, the 2 hour average of YouTube watch time (who knows how much more time was wasted scrolling to find the right video or to look through comments) stoked the fire to keep that level of dopamine sustained. It is unnatural to keep it that high without serious negative consequences, which I have experienced. A day off is most needed to really think and understand these issues.

Yesterday, I took a dopamine fast with no particular agenda but I still allowed myself to do projects that have been neglected in my pursuit of happiness. It was a great time to think about the habits I've formed and how I need, must, will, already have stopped in order to achieve my goals. I already cut YouTube off at the same time I stated this steak. And I have been surprisingly doing well on the sheer will power of it. I haven't tried to replace the void that I created with anything else. No Reddit, no Facebook, nada. Just reading for my classes, some work, and occasional news articles.

With that, here is to 100 days complete (remember, because I already have stopped my addiction) and not 93 to go.