Discussion Any other men feel like PMO is the major cause of their depression or anxiety?

[chancerlane]

I'm using a internet term in the title to shorten it, PMO is essentially the cycle you get into when you start watching porn. Always I was wondering if any other men in their early 20s feel like it's the major cause for their decline in mental health.
Obivous next answer would be to cut it out but I can't be the only one who feels it's close to impossible to stop the cycle, I've tried close to everything and the more I try to stop the more depressed and anxious I get.
Worst part is I don't even want to be in a relationship or have IRL intimacy all that much so why am I addicted to it online? I really don't know the answer and wanted to see if anyone else feels similar or if anyone who has kicked the addiction/habit/whatever you call it, did it actually help your situation or do you still feel the same after/was it worth it to get rid of it?

 

[godsseepiestsoldier]

Never kicked it but managed to reduce it significantly. No idea if this will apply to you even remotely but if it helps it helps. Basically realised i was super super closted bi and trans and was Basically trying to over compensate with porn but once i semi excepeted it my usage went way down but still higher than id like (probably bc i still have issues and ill never be able to come out) again i have no idea if this will apply to you or help at all. Better takeaway might be that there might be some under lying thing driving you towards it but im not an expert or anything lol

 

[therenexuefrbue]

I agree with @godsseepiestsoldier on the whole underlying problem front - I imagine it might be you subconsciously using porn as a coping mechanism for something. based on you not wanting physical intimacy and relationships I'd say you could be asexual or aromantic, and porn could be a subconscious way of denying that or trying to be "normal", but then again it could be something completely different. I don't know 100% how to break the cycle - it's something I can relate to, though not exactly the same thing - but maybe try setting yourself a target of going x amount of time without watching it, then work up from there. I suppose it's kinda like going off drugs - if you stop immediately you'll suffer withdrawal, but if you slowly decrease the dose you get used to it and it's not as bad. obviously easier said than done though

whatever happens, I wish you luck :)

 

[Timelapse]

I wouldn't say PMO is the major cause of my depression. Maybe a symptom of it?

My cycle always starts randomly, I haven't notice anything that provokes this behavior.

I've been diagnosed with Dysthymia since the age of sixteen. But I didn't begin PMO until I was into my 20's.

I often felt disgusted after a session. To the point where I would shower after each time, not because of physical reasons, but the mental thought of the action I just took just made me feel... revolted.

I found out in recent years that Asexuals exists and I just might be one of them. It is TBD, I've never been in a relationship in the 30+ years I've been on this planet, so it's hard to say where I fall.

But then again, I feel comfortable never having a sexual partner and just PMO til I leave this mortal coil.

 

[foreverfalling]

It's a whole package. PMO and depression/anxiety are the same thing. If I lived a different life with hobbies and surrounded by supportive people with the same values as me then I would have no depression/anxiety, and I wouldn't feel the need or have the time to PMO either.

But my life has been empty and emotionally neglectful, so it has lead me to this behaviour to cope with it. I felt awfully lonely when I was young, no one to talk to about my problems, not even my mother. So I'd imagine myself in the situation of having sex to fill this need, where I'd have a person I could trust and depend on.

None of my problems have ever gone away, so this is still my coping mechanism. Except I've replaced it with real sex.