Detox: 60 days vs. 90 days vs. Longer

[UpLifted]

I have been on a complete sexual detox for eight weeks now. The reason I chose to do this was to reset my brain from the constant dopamine rush I would receive from sexual release. My brain had been over stimulated from porn and masturbation. My wife and I agreed from what we have researched that a detox was the best way to reset the brain. It has done so much to help me with my recovery. I feel so much better. Better than I thought possible. My wife and I have been building our intimacy without sex and it has been wonderful. So my question to all those who have been through this is: Is there an advantage to going 90 days over 60 days? I have read that it takes between 4-8 weeks to reset the brain from the over stimulation and dependency on dopamine. So right now I feel great and that my dependency on dopamine is gone. Is there any added benefit to going 90 days? Or is it more of just feeling good because you are able to go that long? I would appreciate any words of wisdom or insight from personal experience.

[BeingThere]

Chemically, it takes about 18 days for dompamine and other receptors to return to "normal".

The only problem with that is, addiction involves more than brain chemicals. Neurons connect to form behavioral patterns. They don't go away. The issue with most addicts that relapse is that they detox but don't deactivate the neural behavior pathways. That's a very different story.

I'm not suggesting that you abstain from sex longer, just that you have to be aware of what's going on inside yourself. Are you having sex or making love? As many addicts can attest, "normal" sex can be as triggering as porn. It can put them right back into the addictive cycle.

In the end, I think you have to decide. Many therapists have gone with a 90 day thing. I don't know that this is magical in any way, just that they have probably found it theraputic for most. One of the things it does is destroy the idea that you can't go x number of days without. Many of us had those glass ceilings. At 90 days, you pretty much realize you're not going to explode.

-Mike