Brian Powerz - Curing sexual performance anxiety: A mans guide to discover life long sexual health,erections, libido and vitality

Sexual Performance anxiety
Porn Can Change & Rewire Your Brain
Porn happens to be fantastic at forming new, long-lasting pathways in the brain. Believe it or not, studies show that those of us who make more frequent use of pornography have brains that are less connected, less active, and even smaller in some areas. Thanks to modern science, now we know that the brain goes on changing throughout life, constantly rewiring itself and laying down new nerve connections, and that this is particularly true in our youth.

Theres some pretty fierce competition between brain pathways, and those that dont get used enough will likely be replaced. Use it or lose it, as they say. Only the strong survive.

Thats where porn comes in.

Porn is such a ferocious competitor that hardly any other activity can compete with it, including actual sex with a real partner. Thats right, porn can actually overpower your brains natural ability to have real sex! Why? As Dr. Norman Doidge, a researcher at Columbia University, explains, porn creates the the perfect conditions and triggers the release of the right chemicals to make lasting changes in your brain.
Doctors are seeing an epidemic of young men who, because of their porn use, cant get an erection with a real, live partner.

Study after study has shown that porn is directly related to problems with arousal, attraction, and sexual performance. Porn leads to less sex and to less sexual satisfaction within a relationship. Researchers have shown a strong connection between porn use and low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and trouble reaching orgasm. Many frequent porn users reach a point where they have an easier time getting aroused by Internet porn than by having actual sex with a real partner. One recent study even concluded that porn use was likely the reason for low sexual desire among a random sample of high school seniors. Who ever heard of that? Low sexual desire among high school seniors!

This trend of sex problems is especially serious for teens and young adults. Their brains are particularly vulnerable to being rewired by porn, and they are in a period where they are forming crucial attitudes, preferences, and expectations for their future.
What is NoFap?
In short, the word Fap is onomatopoeia. That is, its the written sound of masturbating. NoFap, however, refers to a website which hosts NoFap challenges for the sake of dumping the porn addiction for a better, healthier and all-around happier sex life. Really what NoFap aims at doing is to assist you, through their programs, to keep the spark of great sex alive with any romantic encounter you have.

To be 100% clear, NoFap does not encourage indefinite abstinence from masturbation or sex, quite the opposite. The NoFap challenge was designed to ensure that you are able to experience a deeper connection with a deeper sense of intimacy with your partner by eliminating the need for porn or PMO (Porn and Masturbation to Orgasm). It aims at re-wiring ones brain, which has, over time and exposure to hard porn habits, become so dependent on the stimulation that porn provides. This means that you get to decide where to set the balance after your NoFap challenge is finished. But if you choose to abstain because you know it may lead to a relapse, then you can choose to do so, as many others have done too.

Cue the scores of comments about how non-release is bad for you and you stand at risk of contracting prostate cancer if you do not release yourself. Its absolutely true that studies have shown that release can be extremely good for your health. But note that the emphasis is on release and not self-release.

Many a time a porn addiction can get in the way of building good relationships, and can lead to dependency. And that is the focus for the NoFap challenges: kicking the PMO habit.
As the NoFap movement has grown, theres been a notable variety of benefits reported by the fapstronauts themselves. For some, the effects are astronomical, for others the benefits are minimal but long-lasting. Whatever the case, if you are dedicated to rewiring and rebooting you should have success and see positive results.
Heres a quick list of some of the benefits of taking on the NoFap challenge

Increase in Confidence

Many fapstronauts have noted an increase in confidence when approaching women and that they no longer felt awkward when talking to them. Some even mentioned that their confidence has improved overall thanks because they no longer have to hide something they were initially ashamed of. This brings us to the next point

Social life improves

Not everyone factors this as a major improvement, however there were a large number of people who did mention that social situations which had been the cause of anxiety pre-NoFap challenge were now actually quite enjoyable and exciting after doing the 90 days. Some even saw immediate differences after just a few days. This could be a huge part or be the direct result of the next point

General and Sexual Anxiety dissipates

Porn really puts a limit on your ideas of healthy social interactions and expectations. It causes objectification of women, even if we dont mean for it to happen. Everything in a porn movie is justsoeasy. The expectations put huge amounts of strain on a person to perform well sexually and if this doesnt happen, well, then you could start developing serious anxiety. Thankfully, as many fapstronauts have confirmed, all of this can be reversed with a zero PMO period.

Motivation and inspiration increases

So many men have made mention that their desire to talk to women and initiate flirting has increased exponentially after taking the challenge. Possibly the best part of it all is that flirting seems to happen more spontaneously and easier for many of the men who mentioned motivation as one of their biggest NoFap benefits. However, this motivation is not only isolated to flirting with women, its a general motivation which increased the drive to take on projects or situations and be productive in them for longer periods of time.

Respect

Many feel that they are now receiving more respect from men and women alike. This may have something to do with the increased confidence, but it could also have something to do with the increase in testosterone, which is suggested to increase after the seventh day of the challenge.

Enhanced connections

To really appreciate your partner during sex, you have to put aside what youre thinking of and rather experience her than the sex. The fact that the 90-day period enhances your connection to women, and other people is one of the more mentioned benefits along with some of the physical benefits like being more present during sex, enjoying it much more and experiencing quicker arousal that was more pleasurable than the arousal received from porn. The more pleasurable arousal makes for a more pleasurable release.

Deeper emotions

Not as common on the thread, but still common enough to mention is the fact that there were many who listed deeper, clearer emotions as a benefit.

Among those deeper emotions were:

Less frenzied interactions with people, but also a less frenzied interaction with the self.

A clearer mind, which meant clearer reactions to situations

a greater capacity for compassion, empathy and care.

A sense of calm throughout the day.

Some of the physical benefits:

Again, these are benefits that Reddit users themselves have mentioned throughout the NoFap threads.

More energy to tackle new experiences and finish old projects

Clear(er) skin

Harder erections

More pleasurable sex

PIED eradication

Increased strength and endurance when it comes to physical activities

Mental clarity as opposed to the brain fog pre NoFap challenge

To really gain from the full spectrum of benefits, its suggested to stick to the challenge 100%. Not easy, for sure, but perhaps it helps to remember that your goal is not to abstain from fapping indefinitely. Your goal is to re-wire your brain in order to keep your focus on the connection and intimacy of being with another person and experiencing real euphoria as opposed to experiencing a temporary rush of dopamine thats not rooted in reality (and leaves some feeling guilty).