Refraining from fapping

Brian from Bray

I'm just wondering has anyone on here ever tried going a few weeks/months with out fapping and what was your experience from it ? Did you feel any benefits from it ?

Came across this video the last day and some of the benefits look very good. I was thinking about giving this a try myself but the longest I've ever gone is a week :pac:

Anyway here's the video

PirateShampoo

The body would find it's own release.

It's the reason why men have wet dreams. Maturation is natural and if you won't do it, you're deviant mind will.

mass_debater

There was a thread here before "the no fap challenge". Have a search, I'm too lazy to look

ancapailldorcha

I've deleted a few posts and would ask anyone new here to read our charter before posting. This isn't the place for base humour and one-liners.

Thanks.

emigrate2012

Maybe 5-6days,but after that, nope.
Unless in an relationship, and even then, not much longer.

the_syco

One of the forums, either here or one of the private forums, there's a "no fap" month. Personally, I can only last a week and a bit before the horn goes into full auto mode, and it becomes harder (lol, sorry) to control the stifness. A few boast about lasting longer.

I did notice that for the first few months, my drive to do things rose (again, all these bad puns :pac:), but like anything, after a while the drive ain't there from not fapping for only a week. It's almost like the body alters for the change, and the drive isn't there as much.

HalloweenJack

Tbh, it seems like you could take most of those quotes and use them to talk about quitting smoking, drinking, coffee or drugs. Personally, I think it's BS.

Longest I went without a fap was post-op after my circumcision. 33 days I lasted and I didn't notice any of the above "benefits". I think it is just people telling themselves that it's the case.

jungleman

I just finished a 7 day stretch of no fapping. Don't think I could manage any more than that to be honest. The only way I'd manage a few weeks would be if my arms were amputated or something. Even then I'd still probably find a way.

Wibbs

Well that's 3 minutes of my life I won't get back. 3 Minutes when I could have been….

When I hear about this kinda oddball stuff I get the whiff of let's go back to victorian times about it*. A time where masturbation was considered a bodily "pollution" that could cause "weakness". It's complete and utter nonsense and any perceived benefit would be entirely placebo. Unless you're practising excessive onanism to the point of a zinc deficiency and strained wrist ligaments. In which case dialling back might be beneficial.

Oh and I don't "fap", I have a "****", I'm not a yank. There's probably a haiku in that, somewhere. Not a surprise it's an American thing mind you. After all their fear of onanism goes deep. The original zeal for male circumcisions across the board that they practice in the states came along in victorian times as they thought it would reduce masturbation and improve health. A certain Mr Kellog, him of the cornflakes and of snake oil wellness centres and a complete 'king loon was mad keen on the idea and even suggested performing the operation on pre pubescent boys without anaesthesia so the pain involved would put them off even more. Oh yep.











*That or yer man out of the film Dr. Strangelove going on about commies stealing his "essence".

Brian from Bray

Brian from Bray wrote: »

I'm just wondering has anyone on here ever tried going a few weeks/months with out fapping and what was your experience from it ?

Never. I have seen no reason to - and have not bought into a shred of the pretend science many of the speakers have trotted out on the subject when doing their Ted Talks.

I am not a heavy indulger anyway - at the best or worst of times. But it seems the only people who refrain from abstaining from it - are people who were engaging in it to such an extreme level that it was negatively impacting on the rest of their lives.

But of course it is such people who are rolled out to support the theory in the first place. But a health recommendation only supported by extremes are not ones I find much utility for myself.

If you are interested however we had one thread on it here before:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057313998

And there was one longer thread on the subject on after hours also:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057005297

Exclamation Marc

Only twice have I ever intentionally refrained from it and that's because I was asked to before a sperm bank job.

When you're asked not to, it gets extremely hard not to (pun entirely intended). Actively trying not to just puts it on the mind more.

Once it's not overtaking your life, you're dependent on it or you're not addicted to a point where you need to do it, can't see any reason why you'd deliberately stop yourself. Long gone are the days where people actually bought the 'benefits of not ****' dicta.

Also on side note, I have to echo what Wibbs said; I absolutely detest the word 'fap'.

Wibbs

Plus I seem to recall reading that men who had more orgasms by any means tended to have healthier prostate glands in later life. Yep here's the link. . And apparently reduces the risk of breast cancer in men. As well as the various compounds released during ejaculation it makes sense to me it would be better to "clean the pipes" on the regular. After all sperm are rapidly dividing cells in the body so might be prone to more genetic damage as we age?

On the other hand it might simply be that men who naturally have a higher sex drive and are more likely to orgasm/**** are also likely to have higher testosterone, healthier vascularity etc in the first place. Might be that frequency of orgasm is an indicator of general male health in the first place.

santana75

Brian from Bray wrote: »

I'm just wondering has anyone on here ever tried going a few weeks/months with out fapping and what was your experience from it ? Did you feel any benefits from it ?

Came across this video the last day and some of the benefits look very good. I was thinking about giving this a try myself but the longest I've ever gone is a week :pac:

Anyway here's the video

I read a book and in it the guy gave some really compelling reasons to not whack off or look at porn. 90 days was the challange and, so **** it, sounded good to me. Im on day 52 and honestly at the risk of sounding overly dramatic, its life changing. Lads will obviously joke about **** like this and I'd joke myself, but its only when you stop that you realise how damaging to your life porn and jerking off can be. The benefits are, you feel physically more energetic, like not just a little bit but a lot. You feel happier, but most of all you get to find out a lot about yourself. Also, for whatever messed up reason, you will attract women like never before in your life, its unreal.

mynameis905

santana75 wrote: »

I read a book and in it the guy gave some really compelling reasons to not whack off or look at porn. 90 days was the challange and, so **** it, sounded good to me. Im on day 52 and honestly at the risk of sounding overly dramatic, its life changing. Lads will obviously joke about **** like this and I'd joke myself, but its only when you stop that you realise how damaging to your life porn and jerking off can be. The benefits are, you feel physically more energetic, like not just a little bit but a lot. You feel happier, but most of all you get to find out a lot about yourself. Also, for whatever messed up reason, you will attract women like never before in your life, its unreal.

The 'benefits' listed in the YouTube video above are absurd. "Glowing eyes", "Deep manly voice of confidence", "becoming more articulate when you talk". Surely no one takes this shíte seriously?

The whole idea is patently nonsense. I don't mean to sound harsh but a) was the book you read written by a medical professional and b) did it contain data and solid evidence from peer-reviewed clinical studies? Show me cold, hard facts and proof and I'll change my position in a heartbeat. Until then, the whole idea is right up there with homeopathy, reiki, crystal healing and all the other nonsense that gets peddled on the naive.

Le Surge Eyed Amant

When I go too long without ejaculating I automatically knock one out when sleeping, I call it sleep masturbating. I just dream up sexy thoughts and start tugging away, there's nothing I can do about it.

santana75

mynameis905 wrote: »

The 'benefits' listed in the YouTube video above are absurd. "Glowing eyes", "Deep manly voice of confidence", "becoming more articulate when you talk". Surely no one takes this shíte seriously?

The whole idea is patently nonsense. I don't mean to sound harsh but a) was the book you read written by a medical professional and b) did it contain data and solid evidence from peer-reviewed clinical studies? Show me cold, hard facts and proof and I'll change my position in a heartbeat. Until then, the whole idea is right up there with homeopathy, reiki, crystal healing and all the other nonsense that gets peddled on the naive.

I get your scepticism, I roll my eyes when I hear crap like that aswell. But this is just one of those things you have to do to find out for yourself. Forget peer reviewed clinical studies, just take a leap of faith and do it, it's the only way to find out for yourself if it's bull**** or not.

strelok

if you look at any of the websites or subreddit(s?) dedicated to nofap they're terrifying places. it's full of religious fervour and unbelievable levels of shame for the inevitable indulgence. a weird obsession with porn too, like the christian right or the feminist left.


https://www.reddit.com/r/NoFap/comments/3n6nf2/ive_been_reflecting_on_the_terrible_shootings_in/

and you also have messianic **** like this


also

fap fap fap

santana75

santana75 wrote: »

The benefits are, you feel physically more energetic, like not just a little bit but a lot. You feel happier, but most of all you get to find out a lot about yourself.

As has been noted - if you are engaging with masturbation and porn to the point that it is negatively impacting your happiness, energy and confidence then of course _stopping_ will reverse that and you will see such benefits.

It is an error however to extrapolate from this that suggesting other people stop too will allow them to see similar benefits. They will not - because the majority of them are not engaging with it to the same damaging degree that the speaker is.

Take an analogy. Imagine you are someone who binge drinks twice a week. You suffer hangovers the next day. And knock on low energy levels the day after. Maybe some paranoia ("the fear" as some people call it) and depression. Messed up appetite. And so forth. So basically you feel crap for 6 days a week.

So you stop drinking and you suddenly feel better energy levels, attention span, general well being, confidence and so forth. So you think it is a good idea to stop drinking because it brings all these perceived benefits.

However the majority of people do not binge. They have a drink with a meal maybe once or twice a week. When they go to the pub they do not drink to excess. So your advice will be meaningless to them - and even if they follow it they will see little to no benefits like you do.

Masturbation and porn is not the issue here in other words. Engaging with ANYTHING - including masturbation and porn - to such an excess as to negatively impact other areas of your life - is the problem and therefore abstaining from your vice will of course bring benefits as you describe them.

santana75

[Deleted User] wrote: »

It is an error however to extrapolate from this that suggesting other people stop too will allow them to see similar benefits. They will not - because the majority of them are not engaging with it to the same damaging degree that the speaker is.


So you stop drinking and you suddenly feel better energy levels, attention span, general well being, confidence and so forth. So you think it is a good idea to stop drinking because it brings all these perceived benefits.

However the majority of people do not binge. They have a drink with a meal maybe once or twice a week. When they go to the pub they do not drink to excess. So your advice will be meaningless to them - and even if they follow it they will see little to no benefits like you

But then you have nothing to lose by trying it. You're assuming that you have nothing to gain by doing this, that it won't make a difference to your life. My challange to you is to let go of logic and all your reasons why you shouldn't try this(because there's always going to be a lot of "very reasonable" arguments against) and just see what happens. 30 days, that's all. If there's nothing there then 30 days will be easy. You have nothing to lose by going for 30 days without whacking off or looking at porn. At the very least you'll give your Johnson a break, and every blokes Johnson could do with a **** break.

neonman

santana75 wrote: »

But then you have nothing to lose by trying it. You're assuming that you have nothing to gain by doing this, that it won't make a difference to your life. My challange to you is to let go of logic and all your reasons why you shouldn't try this(because there's always going to be a lot of "very reasonable" arguments against) and just see what happens. 30 days, that's all. If there's nothing there then 30 days will be easy. You have nothing to lose by going for 30 days without whacking off or looking at porn. At the very least you'll give your Johnson a break, and every blokes Johnson could do with a **** break.

During your no fapping phase did you have sex or is it all out nothing?

Edgarfrndly

I did it, a full reboot. There's a good community over on reddit (nofap), where you can read all the personal experiences in the world that show people getting over certain problems. Don't worry about the religious posts, they are in the minority. Most people are just doing it to improve their lives.

My experience is - it leads to the following. Stuff like ED/DE will be fixed. (Although it does take some time) Sex is way more satisfying, and feels more intimate. Your confidence increases. It makes eye contact easier. My overall view is that it's an extremely positive experience, and you'll feel a lot better after doing it.

The first 2 weeks are the most difficult, but after that it gets easier. You'll hit a "flatline" during the process, while your brain is rewiring and you lose all of your sex drive. It's kind of unnerving, but it returns after a few weeks.

There's a lot of studies behind the impact porn has on our brain, and how it affects our grey matter on our brain (http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1874574) and dopamine management (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3050060/). I've no moral objection to it. But it desensitizes you.

I laughed at it when I first read about it to be honest. But I had lifelong issues with DE (delayed ejaculation). I tried everything, but this was the only thing that cured it.

Mr Bloat

Technically, what's the difference between masturbation and having sex? Ok, I know there is the world of difference between the two but if you boil right down to the nitty gritty, both acts involve stimulation of the sex organs which leads to orgasm. So surely any benefits a person could get from not masturbating could also be gotten from not having sex with a partner? I'm pretty sure there is nobody creditable out there that claims there are benefits from not having sex so how can the same claims be made regarding not masturbating?

santana75 wrote: »

At the very least you'll give your Johnson a break, and every blokes Johnson could do with a **** break.

Why would giving my "Johnson" a **** break be any different to giving it a break from sex in general?

Mr Bloat

Edgarfrndly wrote: »

I did it, a full reboot. There's a good community over on reddit (nofap), where you can read all the personal experiences in the world that show people getting over certain problems. Don't worry about the religious posts, they are in the minority. Most people are just doing it to improve their lives.

My experience is - it leads to the following. Stuff like ED/DE will be fixed. (Although it does take some time) Sex is way more satisfying, and feels more intimate. Your confidence increases. It makes eye contact easier. My overall view is that it's an extremely positive experience, and you'll feel a lot better after doing it.

The first 2 weeks are the most difficult, but after that it gets easier. You'll hit a "flatline" during the process, while your brain is rewiring and you lose all of your sex drive. It's kind of unnerving, but it returns after a few weeks.

There's a lot of studies behind the impact porn has on our brain, and how it affects our grey matter on our brain (http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1874574) and dopamine management (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3050060/). I've no moral objection to it. But it desensitizes you.

I laughed at it when I first read about it to be honest. But I had lifelong issues with DE (delayed ejaculation). I tried everything, but this was the only thing that cured it.

I can't see how stopping masturbating would make me more confident or make eye contact easier? The only reason I could see for this is if I felt internal shame that I was a wanker (in the literal sense of the word) and felt that somehow the people I was talking to knew of my shameful acts.
Also, if your brain "rewires" itself after two weeks of no masturbation and you lose your sex drive, why doesn't it do this after two weeks of no sex? I have, for one reason or another, gone a few times in my life of two weeks (sometimes more!) of no sex. During this period I didn't notice a decrease in my sex drive, in fact I was gagging for it.

mahoganygas

jungleman wrote: »

The only way I'd manage a few weeks would be if my arms were amputated or something. Even then I'd still probably find a way.

There's a story on reddit about a guy with two broken arms who lived with his mom.

I'll let you figure out the rest.

santana75

neonman wrote: »

During your no fapping phase did you have sex or is it all out nothing?

Some lads do have sex and just give up porn and masturbation, I'm not convinced about this. It's kind of like junkies being given methidone to get off heroine, it doesn't work. Best way is for a clean break, 90 days. Then after that you go back to having sex. All the lads who go 90 days though don't ever go back to masturbation or porn, those two things stay gone. It's not an obligation though, it's just something that happens naturally.

Edgarfrndly

Mr Bloat wrote: »

I can't see how stopping masturbating would make me more confident or make eye contact easier? The only reason I could see for this is if I felt internal shame that I was a wanker (in the literal sense of the word) and felt that somehow the people I was talking to knew of my shameful acts.

It's not related to shame. I'd assume it is the result of the physiological change porn has on your brain. It's just a personal observation, and one that appears to be reflected by everyone who cuts out porn and masturbation. Your argument is because you "don't understand" how it occurs, then it must not be able to occur. That's an argument from personal incredulity.

Mr Bloat wrote: »

Also, if your brain "rewires" itself after two weeks of no masturbation and you lose your sex drive, why doesn't it do this after two weeks of no sex? I have, for one reason or another, gone a few times in my life of two weeks (sometimes more!) of no sex. During this period I didn't notice a decrease in my sex drive, in fact I was gagging for it.

It takes about 90 days to rewrite the brain - not 2 weeks. A flatline is an indication that it is in process and can happen at anytime. Masturbation involves unlikely fantasy-driven scenarios. The spikes in dopamine between masturbation and sex are different.

Why not read any of the available studies on the issue? I've already linked some.

santana75

Mr Bloat wrote: »

Technically, what's the difference between masturbation and having sex? Ok, I know there is the world of difference between the two but if you boil right down to the nitty gritty, both acts involve stimulation of the sex organs which leads to orgasm. So surely any benefits a person could get from not masturbating could also be gotten from not having sex with a partner? I'm pretty sure there is nobody creditable out there that claims there are benefits from not having sex so how can the same claims be made regarding not masturbating?



Why would giving my "Johnson" a **** break be any different to giving it a break from sex in general?

Your hand is a lot stronger than a vagina. When you grip your dick with your hand it's like putting it into a vice compared to a vagina. By giving it a break you resensitize it so that a vagina actually feels a lot stronger than it did when you used your hands.

Mr Bloat

Edgarfrndly wrote: »

It's not related to shame. I'd assume it is the result of the physiological change porn has on your brain. It's just a personal observation, and one that appears to be reflected by everyone who cuts out porn and masturbation. Your argument is because you "don't understand" how it occurs, then it must not be able to occur. That's an argument from personal incredulity.
It takes about 90 days to rewrite the brain - not 2 weeks. A flatline is an indication that it is in process and can happen at anytime. Masturbation involves unlikely fantasy-driven scenarios. The spikes in dopamine between masturbation and sex are different.

Why not read any of the available studies on the issue? I've already linked some.

I do intend on reading the links you posted, I'm in work at the moment and can't do so, so my comments are quick responses from personal incredulity at these claims. In general, I am a confident person and will usually make a lot of eye contact during conversations. I also masturbate a couple of times a week.
I recall reading some stuff a while back and watching experts on talk shows and stuff like that who claimed that there was plenty of evidence to show that masturbation and fantasy were healthy.
I'll read your stuff with interest because it flies in the face of everything I have read and heard of before and I'll be back.

Celly Smunt

I used to do the whole staying away when "she had her week off" type of thing and I think there is a benefit there. Mainly because we'd both be looking for sex the week after and it would just generally be unreal and really boosted the relationship. This I recommend.

Months without it?, why bother?. By animalistic terms we're supposed to be out spilling our beans everyday with random females to carry our horrible offspring. Naturally we'd be cracking them out everyday or two. There's a reason we regenerate so quickly and that's to give us a smaller time frame to release our stuff rather than waiting months to be in heat for instance.

No porn would be a good challenge to do, there's not much natural about porn (well voyeurism I suppose) but "no fapping" goes against everything our bodies tell us to do. It's like starving yourself so you have an appetite instead of eating regularly and being healthy.

santana75

santana75 wrote: »

But then you have nothing to lose by trying it.

Nor has anyone got much to lose particularly by doing a hop skip and a jump down the road while singing - "La la la there horrace - have a google at my terrace" - but not having anything to lose by doing something entirely random and pointless is not really going to recommend it - let alone justify recommending it to others.

Sure the whole homeopathy industry is essentially built on the concept of "Ah sure try it - you have nothing to lose - and look no side effects either". Plus I am intensely suspicious of anything - whatever it may be - that is supported by little more than testimonials.

santana75 wrote: »

You're assuming that you have nothing to gain by doing this, that it won't make a difference to your life.

Of course I am. That is the safe and rational assumption to make about any fad or baseless recommendation that is tabled before you. Otherwise you would be trying every thing that comes in the door or the email - and the word is full of fad and nonsense recommendations.

So yes I happily maintain a "unless there is some substance to the claim I should try it then I see no reason why I should try it".

As I say - if someone is engaging with masturbation and porn to the degree that it is causing some negative impact on their lives then of course they should give abstinence a try.

But the majority of people - who engaging with such things in moderation - are not likely to see any of the benefits you describe.

santana75 wrote: »

My challange to you is to let go of logic and all your reasons why you shouldn't try this

Ah the old "stop thinking - just do it" approach. Usually get that one from the religious - with the use of reason being the antithesis of what they are attempting to achieve. The "challenge" of course comes with the assumption that I have not done it before - or "given it a try". You will find such assumptions unsafe.

santana75 wrote: »

you'll give your Johnson a break, and every blokes Johnson could do with a **** break.

Speak for yourself. My engagement with porn and masturbation is already below average. So whatever about someone engaging in it moderately being unlikely to reap any benefits based on what you have described so far - someone like myself is even less so.

It would be an equivalent to a heavy binge drinker - coming off the drink - feeling great - and then recommending avoidance of alcohol to someone who has a single glass of red wine on pay day on the 1st of every month with their dinner.

santana75

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Nor has anyone got much to lose particularly by doing a hop skip and a jump down the road while singing - "La la la there horrace - have a google at my terrace" - but not having anything to lose by doing something entirely random and pointless is not really going to recommend it - let alone justify recommending it to others.

Sure the whole homeopathy industry is essentially built on the concept of "Ah sure try it - you have nothing to lose - and look no side effects either". Plus I am intensely suspicious of anything - whatever it may be - that is supported by little more than testimonials.

So yes I happily maintain a "unless there is some substance to the claim I should try it then I see no reason why I should try it".

As I say - if someone is engaging with masturbation and porn to the degree that it is causing some negative impact on their lives then of course they should give abstinence a try.

Ah the old "stop thinking - just do it" approach. Usually get that one from the religious - with the use of reason being the antithesis of what they are attempting to achieve.

I'm the most unreligious person you'd ever meet, so I'm not gonna try convince you jerking off and porn are morally wrong. It has nothing to do with that kind of philosophy. You're arguing logic left right and centre, you're completely operating from your head and this thing has nothing to do with logic or reason. It's taking place on another level, and that's not religious either, that's life, that's being human. You're looking for explanations where there isn't any. You're just gonna have to try it and see for yourself.......let go of all your arguments and defences and take a leap of faith. I promise you nothing bad will happen, you're not gonna implode, you're not gonna lose your sex drive or be overwhelmed by it. I guarantee you only positive and good things will come out of you doing this. You just have to let go of all the arguments and reasoning, see them for what they are (defences ) and do it.