Nafs
You said
"I want my salah to feel real again."
قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ
Qul lil-mu'minīna yaghuddū min abṣārihim
wa yaḥfaẓū furūjahum — dhālika azkā lahum
Tell the believing men to lower their gaze
and guard their private parts.
That is purer for them.
An-Nur 24:30
الحمد لله
You stayed clean.
Reading the ayah...