I’m 21M, not sure if I have POIS…
First ever reddit post...
I’ve had this issue for almost a year, and it’s getting worse.
When I’m alone and I get horny (knowing I’m about to masturbate), my heart starts beating insanely fast. Gemini (AI) said it’s adrenaline.
And I get this urgent need to take a shit. I get lowkey anxious. Might be fight or flight.
My penis gets really firm at first and my whole body gets tense. After just 1 or 2 minutes, it just goes soft like 50-60%. The stimulation just dies.
Lately, my body has even started finishing on its own while I’m edging, and it’s not stimulating/ orgasmic at all.
Post-Orgasm Crash
About 5 to 10 min later, the anxiety hit.
After 30 min, I get insanely gassy and I can't stop burping.
I’m super tired, but every time I’m in that phase between being sleepy and actually falling asleep, my body jolts me awake.
My brain starts racing with random thoughts (probably cortisol), making me super anxious and I just stay awake for hours or just don't sleep at all.
My Hypothesis:
I used to edge for hours as a teen with no issues.
But then I got into a "self-improvement" phase and did 7 months of semen retention. I started basing my self-worth on my "no masturbation streak."
Now, every time I scroll through X, see something suggestive, and end up on a porn site.
I always thought "I shouldn't be doing this”and I believe that guilt slowly build turned into a "fight or flight" response.
I’ve read Daoist bedchamber arts books that say you have to "warm up" your energy through foreplay. When I’m with a girl, I do that. But when I’m alone, I just whip it out and start jacking it.
I think I’m shocking my nervous system while have the mindset that like I’m doing something detrimental to myself, which causes POIS? (My humble opinion)
Personal Information:
It doesn't happen when I have sex, No symptoms during sex or after sex. Erection is hard. I can go for 45 min avg. I can control when I ejaculate. And I feel absolutely wonderful.
Currently, I only masturbate once or twice a month to check if my penis still stays at 60% hardness and to see if I still experience that fight or flight response.
I’m fairly healthy, I hit the gym 4 times a week, eat healthy food most of the time, and maintain a high-protein diet (about 70%). My supplement stack includes (off for 1 month to see if supplement is the issue) Vitamin D3 + K2, Zinc Glycinate, Magnesium Glycinate, B-Complex, Thiamine (B1), L-Theanine, Gamma E Complex, Selenium, Taurine.
I’ve been an entrepreneur for 2-3 years now, which comes with its fair share of stress and cortisol spikes. I suspect I might have a thyroid issue (self-diagnosed). I’ve also suspected my hormones are off because I’ve been dealing with jawline acne for the past six months. Despite my healthy lifestyle, I’m not sure where things are going wrong.
ANY ADVICE? Appreciate for reading!