What benefits do people see as they reboot?

Users' reports about the benefits of rebooting:

• If you can manage at least 3 weeks, you'll see how powerful all of this is. The clarity and lack of depression for me was extremely noticeable and you will likely feel like a different person. It gave me some hope that there is nothing fundamentally wrong with me. Just having that experience of clarity and lack of depression can be a powerful thing. It’s worth it, but it can take a while to get the hang of it.

• I am retaining and storing information perfectly first time and recalling it with complete accuracy. When people speak to me to tell me things I am fully engaged and I am actively listening to them. Before my reboot I was terrible at this. I would feign listening, not remember anything and then waste time wonder what was going on, trying to teach myself from scratch and then annoying them by asking them to show me for a second or third time. I just feel sharper and more clear mentally. It is tough to accurately describe it without sounding too poetic, but you feel like you're tuned into life, you're aware of more than you were before. At work, there are girls that I would consider to be out of my league that are now looking at me. I know this because I am looking back at them and not shying away so I am actually noticing them properly for the first time. Since stopping PMO I have noticed that I have become more aware of my desire for affection and love increasing and the best part is, I also have a girlfriend to do that with. I often felt in the past as well like I was missing something that other guys had. It was confidence, but not just because they had had sex and relationships and I hadn't. I couldn't put my finger on it but I think I could have the answer. How many of those guys would have, without knowing it been abstaining from porn and masturbation, and only getting their orgasms through sex with their girlfriends? If that's the case then it could go a long way to explaining why I used to feel and in some cases like a second class citizen, and why I am now feeling like I am making my way slow but surely up into the major leagues. (Day 52) I didn't touch my penis with my hand, but it certainly felt firm. It stayed firm for 10 minutes and all it took was kissing, cuddling and light touching. No heavy, direct, manual stimulation, no dirty talk, no having to look at Rachel's ass, no swapping positions or trying to force anything. It was just like my brain tuned in and BAM, I was turned on. It certainly bodes well for the future.
• Reddit thread: Anyone else notice increased concentration? I've always had issues focusing. In college I didn't do well unless I was on adderall. I was unable to finish a book unless it was extremely interesting. My mind would just bombard me with a million ideas or urges making it difficult to study or read. Anytime I'm on nofap my concentration skyrockets. I just finished a book yesterday That I have been meaning to read for the past 6 months. I've also had better luck applying for jobs and working on projects. Anyone else experience this?
• Abstaining from PMO (though I had a bit of a slip with P a little over a week ago) has drastically changed my life, in less than a month. Now that my brain feels back in balance, I'm brimming with confidence. I'm not slouching anymore. I'm comfortable with myself. I love interacting with people. I think quickly on my feet. I'm funny! I've bought over 200 dollars worth of dress shirts and nice shorts. This will be my regular wardrobe, replacing metal t-shirts and workout shorts. Girls are giving me looks now. Hot girls have done double-takes. I notice girls glancing in my direction, twirling their hair, and all these subtle "look at me" signs. It's like an underworld of sexual tension that I haven't experienced since high school. As I sit here writing this, there's a girl (19ish-looking) in a booth next to me who is twirling her hair and periodically glancing in my direction. I'm getting aroused just thinking of her running her cute, petite hands through her flowing dark hair. Last week I went on a blind date, set up by a friend. Cute girl, really cool, but not my type. But it was great to be officially "out there" again. I'm becoming more "mature" by the day (by virtue of now caring about how I come across to people). Girls are everywhere I go. Opportunities everywhere. By opportunities, I don't only mean chances to talk to girls; I also mean chances to act confident, to give her a look, to see if she's looking back. If she's not, that's OK. She may be having a bad day, or she may not like my look. Whatever the case, it's perfectly OK. More girls around the corner.Over the past week, I've thought about porn for about 10 seconds. I've reconnected my home internet and haven't felt tempted at all. I can only think about real girls. How they look, smell, walk. My random make-out session (see last entry) shocked me into life. I want real girls/women. Not gonna lie - I'd love to get with a young thing (19-20). My sexual future is looking infinitely more promising than it did a mere 3-4 weeks ago.This is so much fun.
• I never thought I had ED...I managed to have sex with my wife. I just wanted porn and masturbation out of my life. Boy, was I wrong. Since my recovery my erections are way bigger, fuller and longer and the head is flared, my wife comments each time. I also remain erect even after orgasm and think I could keep it up for a loooong time. My morning wood is also bigger and fuller, I just shrug and laugh each morning , now that I realize I really had ED and was too caught in my addiction to realize it. Keep in mind I am 50, though in pretty good shape for my age and clean living.
• Regarding abstaining and music: My hands are able to move more freely, they're less tense and shaky when I play guitar. I can improvise a lot better with certain scales and what not. Also creativity flows out of me when I'm drawing or playing guitar. I learn songs faster than if I were all dull-minded from watching porn. Being honest porn doesn't do much for me. I've come to the point to where I'm just not excited by it. There are times I do slip, but for the most part the cravings aren't as bad as when I started. I think it's more mental for me since I need actual physical touch; that's something that satisfies me. I'm not talking about sex...just holding a girl or something innocent like that.
• I was just talking with a friend. He wasn’t a porn addict, but he looked at porn. He didn’t need to abstain from orgasm for a period, but he did just as an experiment. It was interesting to hear his experience from a non-porn addict perspective. He simply said that he felt super focused and felt more like the person he wanted to be. He works in a stressful, fast-paced job that requires leadership and creative skills. He mentioned that he now feels like he is able to do his job effectively and thrive in the environment. He loves self-help and go-getter stuff, so he was thrilled to have been introduced to this. He mentioned that since his experiment, he doesn’t masturbate anymore just because he is bored—because he knows the consequences now. He is having sex with women right now just because his dating life is a lot better and he doesn’t really need to rely on porn. He also says that he doesn’t waste as much semen just for the heck of it anymore. He used to release every single day. Now it’s more like every 3 or 4 days and he notices a difference.
• [A reply] I have noticed some weird things too. I don’t think I am "dulled," because I can still manage to be sharp if I have to be, but I think there was a manic component to how I thought before that might have been associated with my depression. It feels like a pretty fundamental thing to me. It’s difficult to describe, but I notice a difference. It scares me because it feels like I lost something, but then I realize how much sanity I’ve gained. Also, there are aspects of my motivation and intent that seem to be different too. I am less clear on this, but it feels like my motivation to do things is more grounded in "bigger picture" type of thinking rather than going after what feels good in the moment.
• It's strange but this is the second time I've gone over two months and this time I feel like I can go on forever. My libido comes and goes but I definitely know its there if I need it. Porn, ultimately has no value. I don't consider going back all that much although the thought comes back from time to time. I think of it like smoking. Would I try one cigarette after years of quitting just to test to see if I am still addicted? Of course not. Porn isn't all that much different. Those neuron pathways are so strong that one image can send you back to binging.
• [Two months] I mean so far, I feel like i have changed a lot. Let's do a list of changes after 60+ days: --I have respect for myself, and I will stand up for myself more, whereas before I would keep quiet, only to regret it later.--I don't want to have sex with every girl. I do want a connection now. Before, my personality was just "Get Sex!"--I have no interest in non productive things like playing video games or being online all day for no reason.--My body really bulked up a lot! I'm supposed to be an ectomorph, but I now look somewhere between ectomorph and mesomorph.--My voice is more relaxed, and it comes from a lower point around my stomach. Before it was high and sounded so scared.--I want to give people value, instead of complaining about what other people lack. I'm less selfish.--Music sounds so good to me right now. It can make breathless for a second.--I can think long term now. I already set the date for my 90 day mark, and it doesn't scare me at all. I'm not intimidated. No one is an expert right away, things take practice.There have been days during this reboot where I feel so lively and fun like I was having whole body orgasms or something, but then there are days when I snap and yell at people to leave me alone. It's been confusing this reboot thing, but I'm gonna stick with it.
• [After a month, with a couple of mild-porn relapses] I found a personal mood pattern: the day I masturbate and the day after are great, lots of energies and very optimistic. Then the 2-3 days afterward are terrible, headaches, tiredness, laziness, mild depression at times. If I get through these (which, in the past I always failed to), I sort of balance in a "normal" mood, not too upbeat, but not depressed either, at times willing to engage in difficult tasks. The only big difference is in having more energies for physical activities, that's a sure improvement. Another small change is that I'm more willing to try new things, I'm thinking of changing my hair and buying different clothes, of different styles. I'm getting morning wood every day and some spontaneous erections too, sprinkled throughout the day. But I never suffered of a lack of potency. Even when masturbating each day I always craved more even after a few hours. I didn't have morning wood though. So, that's a real change.
• Three years this coming October for me with no porn, not counting a slip about 1.6 years ago. Occasionally I still feel a slight pull, not very much now. About a month ago I came across a porn site, saw the various links and noticed that I really had no desire to click any of them and follow them. I was quite surprised because the links had some very graphic photos, but the huge mega-magnetic pull that once existed around those images just wasn't there. That was a really nice feeling.
• I used to be depressed all the time, a loner with no friends, which caused me to keep relapsing. I've been struggling with avoiding porn/masturbation for almost two years now. These days I feel amazing when I'm not PMOing- healthy, no more depression, confident. I sleep well, have more energy. About 1-2 months in, I feel clarity and so focused...like who i really am. However, wet dreams, sexual dreams without orgasm and night masturbation always seem to lead to a relapse the next day. I like to feel good again so I'm going to keep striving.
• [Posted on a "depersonalization" forum] I have had DP for 1.5 years, however My DP has since gotten a lot better as of about 3 months ago. I am about 65% back to normal. I noticed that when I developed DP, my porn use increased quite a bit. I had begun watching porn every day or every other day, and I was watching quite extreme stuff. In that brain-fog state, I wasn't really aware of anything in my own life. Everything felt like a dream so I wasn't noticing this pattern. I read something about excessive porn use being linked to social anxiety and depression. I decided it might be a good idea that I stopped. Initially I only lasted about 3 weeks and then caved, getting back heavily into both (I had to make up for lost time :P).But I noticed something during those 3 weeks. Although I still found it hard to connect with people, my social anxiety had decreased DRAMATICALLY. I could have conversations with people no problem and I was generally more excited about life. I remember my brother telling me something that made me laugh for ages, and it felt incredible to really feel that amidst DP.
• For a month I abstained successfully, and noticed an exponential gain in my relationships, in forming new ones. I was focused and determined to set goals and accomplish them, and was finding pleasure in the little things in life. My Achilles heel was that I thought the fight with this thing was over and abandoned what got me to one month.

• I have personal experience with both ADHD and compulsive behavior with daily porn viewing. I have ADHD (inattentive type). Based on research and personal experience, I believe that the condition of ADHD predisposes one to addictive behavior that gives "dopamine hits". ADHD is a condition of low dopamine, hence, motivation in general is a problem. I used masturbation to self-soothe (I'm guessing) as a kid and continued to use it and porn as an adult. I have stopped using porn completely, and yes, I still have ADHD. However, I feel way better about myself. My confidence, in terms of feeling much more in control over my decisions in life, has improved substantially. Now, I can address my ADHD more directly.

• It’s getting close to 2 months (60 days) now...without orgasm or masturbation, or even looking at porn. A change in my environment (I moved out of the house and left the computer desk and chair I would masturbate in at home), helped considerably. Also support from friends has helped immensely. The emotions and feelings have just been pouring out lately. I've grown close to an amazing girl whom I care for deeply and she’s very supportive
• (Day 125. Age 50+) Benefits of Being PM Free: 1. Not Consumed with always thinking about Sex. As soon as I turned on the computer, and after having checked my email, headline news, and how my favorite sports teams were doing, I was off to the my “favorite” porn sites to get my daily fix. Depending on the day, it could end up in a porn binge. 2. I’m No Longer an angry person. Whenever I watched porn it would make me angry … usually at my wife for absolutely no reason whatsoever. I think subconsciously I was treating her poorly because she didn’t look or act out like the women in the movies / clips that I watched. 3. ED problems that I had for the last 18 months due to my addiction to high speed internet porn are pretty much all gone. 4. Improved Sex Life. My wife and I are enjoying great sex. We are incorporating Kareeza and are enjoying the bonding behaviors that go with it. Our lovemaking is slow and sensual. We are connecting emotional, mentally, and spiritually. 5. I get more work done. Since I’m not wasting time online viewing porn, I get more work done. In fact, I’m way ahead of my schedule so that many of my “Honey-do’s” are done before Saturday / Sunday – which means I can watch football!! 6. Women are no Longer viewed simply as sex objects. I’m no longer looking at women and wondering what they look like naked and what they’re like in bed. I now see them as ladies and am beginning to appreciate their outer and inner beauty. 7. I have a new love and appreciation for my wife of 30 years. Because I am no longer looking at porn, we have grown closer and are enjoying doing things together as couple, both in and out of the bedroom. 8. I am a whole lot happier as a person! 9. FREEDOM!!! I got my life back. I’m no longer a slave to my addiction! 10. No more viruses on my computer!
• Today is my first week free of porn after about 12 years of daily use (I'm 26) … I'm avoiding anything sexually arousing while browsing on the net, and I'm cuddling more with my girlfriend. We had sex one time since then and it was a lot more personal, sensual and rewarding than it used to be. It's interesting to realize that it was my porn addiction that eventually ruined my previous relationship of six years. I don't really mind, because my current girlfriend and I are much more suited to each other. I'm with her since 2 years. But it was frightening to see that even though number two had a much better and healthier mindset about sexuality than my ex-girlfriend, our relationship was deteriorating in the same pattern as my previous one.
• I don't depend on sleep as much anymore. I can wake up in the morning and not feel over-exhausted or anxious to start the day. I can manage on 6 hours sleep compared to the 9 I needed before.

• Masturbation is a real mystery. People like to talk about how it's healthy and a human need. That may be so for some, but it negatively affects me, especially when combined with porn. Cutting out porn improves my energy, skin and drastically improves the under-eye circles.

• Just over a week ago I noticed some red spots on my penis. It felt a little tingly or itchy but not too bad. The feeling would come and go. So to be on the safe side I went and got myself tested. I got tested for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia. Blood sample, urine sample and two penile swabs. All very quick and not half as painful as the stories made out when I was a teenager.One thing that the nurse did say was to stop using shower gel to wash my penis as it interferes with the natural fauna i.e. the naturally occurring bacteria that look after everything. Now before my reboot I would have disregarded this advice as crazy. I didn't wash my penis with shower gel then it would stink. But I learned a while ago that the stink was basically due to dried semen. Upon ejaculation most of it is sent out of the penis and it's fine. But when masturbating, my penis would be held vertically and some of the semen would always get onto the head of my penis and when left under the foreskin for even a few hours without being washed it would smell pretty bad.The upside of not ejaculating to porn is that my smell is completely neutral. So for now, instead of giving it my daily thorough and vigorous wash with shower gel (albeit non scented shower gel) I am now just pulling back the foreskin and firing water at it with the shower head. No gel, soap or anything else. It's actually working really well. I feel just as clean as I always did, if not more so, because I am not suffering from neuro-chemical chaos and brain fog.

Here's the "Benefits" PDF document from which we took these. We update it periodically.

And here are fewer, more extensive accounts.

Here's a list from a former porn user and current blogger on another site: 100 Benefits of Quitting Porn