I'm 29. Started when I was 13, which I know is fucked but it's the truth. Tried to quit the first time at like 17 and failed within a week. Kept failing for over a decade.
Did the cold turkey thing. Did blockers (found ways around them in a few days). Had an accountability partner I just lied to. Did therapy for other stuff and was too embarrassed to bring this up. Joined NoFap, lurked, felt motivated for a weekend, relapsed by Tuesday. I read the books. I knew the science better than my doctor. None of it stuck.
What finally worked was so dumb I almost don't want to say it.
I wrote the day number on a sticky note on my bathroom mirror. Day 1. Day 2. Day 3. Saw it every morning when I brushed my teeth.
That's it. That's the whole thing.
It worked because the streak was finally real. Before, it lived in my head, which meant when I relapsed at 1 AM I could just pretend it didn't happen and "start over Monday." There was no cost. With the sticky note, I had to walk into the bathroom the next morning and physically take it down. That stopped me more times than I can count.
I'm on day 71 now. By far the longest I've ever gone. I don't feel cured or anything — I still get urges, still have bad days. But I haven't relapsed and I'm starting to believe I might actually not.
If you've been failing for years, stop trying to win with willpower. Make the streak exist somewhere outside your head. Sticky note, calendar, app, whatever. The number being visible is the whole thing.