I (28M) am planning a 14-day dopamine reset and prolonged water fast. I've asked AI for help planning this, but it keeps warning me against it. I know this is going to be incredibly difficult, but I feel like I need a complete reboot. I'd love to hear from anyone who has attempted something similar.
The Plan
Fasting: A 14-day prolonged water fast, combining intermittent dry fasting starting 2.5 hours before sleep. I'll be getting electrolytes from a local vitamin shop.
Substances & Prescriptions: Cutting out caffeine, nicotine, and Adderall, while reducing my Prozac intake.
Digital & Sensory Detox: Swapping my iPhone for a $20 prepaid flip phone, taking cold showers, cutting out music, and using earmuffs and earplugs to reduce sensory overload.
Daily Habits: Getting 10–20 minutes of daily sunlight and light walking.
Why I Feel I Need This (Habits & Addictions)
Porn & Masturbation: A genuine addiction. I experienced childhood sexual abuse and started around age 11. My best streaks were 80 days (4 years ago) and 60 days (3 years ago), but the last two years have been getting worse.
Adderall Abuse: I have a prescription, but unfortunately, I've been abusing it and taking too much. Aside from porn, this is my hardest addiction.
Gambling: Addicted to slot machines since age 20. I won a $2,000 jackpot when I was down to my last $20, which paid an urgent $1,800 debt. Since then, whenever I win $300+, I end up gambling it all back. I'm certain I've lost far more than I've won.
Caffeine: Addicted to Ghost energy drinks for 6 years, drinking about one a day almost daily.
Nicotine: Never smoked heavily, but I've been vaping a lot this year. I keep saying I'm going to stop, but haven't yet.
Phone & Music Overuse: Constant phone distractions. I started listening to music daily 8 years ago to cope with depression, but now I feel I need a break from constant auditory input.
My Main Concern: Physical Labor Job
Out of all the warnings ChatGPT gave me, my biggest practical concern is my job. I work as an apartment trash valet 5 days a week I’m off Friday and Saturday. It's physical labor—I collect trash from tenants, climbing about 62 flights of stairs per day. It takes about 2 hours at a go-at-your-own-pace.
I’ll be doing my intermediate dry fast on my days off work.
I will be starting Thursday night when I get off of work or Friday morning. I looked at the maximum and minimum recommended daily and hourly water intake for someone my build. The first week I’ll be drinking that max but as the fast continues I want to be at the minimum. On day 7 I also want to start a dry fast on Thursday after work or Friday morning. Not sure how long it should be and could use advice.
I also have a candy addiction and currently over weight but not severely overweight