Every second more than 28,000 people watch pornography. 👇🏼
Do you think these people (often men) are watching porn on the couch with their family while having a cup of tea? Of course they don’t – they most likely masturbate to it. A compulsive masturbation addiction is a huge problem in the world.
The NCBI report suggests that 30-70% of individuals suffering from hypersexuality also grapple with an addiction to masturbation. 1
Luckily, I was able to quit porn and get rid of my masturbation addiction.
A lot of the articles online are written by doctors who studied about it but haven’t actual experienced a masturbation addiction. That’s why I wanted to give you my pesonal take on this so you know when you are addicted and how to stop it.
key takeaways
- Most people masturbate for sexual pleasure or because they’re horny.
- Skipping tasks, hiding it and paying money are signs of a masturbation addiction.
- Joining an (online) support group like Covenant Eyes is the easiest way to overcome your masturbation addiction.
The Science of Porn and Masturbation
Ever had that unbeatable feeling after crushing a gym session or nailing a work presentation? That’s dopamine1, our brain’s “feel good” MVP. When you masturbate (or fap) your brain gets flooded with this same dopamine.
This video explains really well what’s actually going on in your brain when you watch online porn. 👇🏼
It’s like the high-five your brain gives you for something pleasurable. But here’s the thing, too much of this and you risk dulling that high-five over time.
- Learn More >>> What is NoFap?
- Learn More >>> Scientific Health Benefits of Nofap.
- Learn More >>> The NoFap Timeline.
Masturbation Overload: Recognizing the Signs
Now each person can experience different masturbation addiction symptoms but according to research, these are the signs you should be looking for.2
- More to Feel Good: You need to do it more often for the same pleasure.
- Getting Edgy: You feel cranky if you try to cut back or stop.
- Skipping Tasks: Choosing self-pleasure over daily duties.
- Missing Events: Passing on hangouts or events to masturbate.
- Relationship Issues: Friends or partners notice and are concerned.
- Work Problems: Taking too many “breaks” affecting job performance.
- Always Looking: You’re always searching for adult content.
- Hiding It: You’re secretive about your habits.
Borrowing money is a sign of a drug addiction but can also be also considered as a sign of a porn addiction.
3
Diving into the Why: Causes of Chronic Masturbation
Now before I am going to tell you how to get rid of your masturbation addiction you need to know why you have it in the first place. According to Cleveland Clinic,4 there are multiple reasons why you might be masturbating:
- Compulsive Sexual Behavior: Simply put, it’s when you constantly feel the need for sexual activity, more than usual.
- Compulsive Sexual Thoughts: Sometimes, the mind just keeps circling back to sexual ideas, pushing you towards more masturbation.
- Emotional Triggers: Feeling down or stressed? You might be turning to compulsive masturbation as a quick fix.
- Routine and Habit: For some, it just becomes a part of the daily grind, like having that morning coffee.
- Boredom: Yep, when there’s nothing to do, your thoughts wander, leading to more…hands-on activities.
Survey: Reasons Why People Masturbate
The first study about masturbation frequency is posted in NCBI. They did a survey among 7138 people to analyze how COVID-19 impacted masturbation and online porn addiction.5
The biggest reason for people to masturbate is just for pure sexual pleasure. This is not something back but there is a thin line between sexual pleasure and compulsive sexual behavior.
We also can not ignore that a lot of people masturbate to relieve stress, relax or simply help them fall asleep.
This might be the reason for your masturbation addiction as well.
On the flip side, the survey also asked people what the biggest reason was to NOT masturbate.
Understanding why you want to stop masturbating will help you when things get tough.
Also Read >>> The Ultimate Guide To Sexual Mastery.
Impact of Masturbation Addiction
As you can see, masturbation addiction is a serious problem and you need to take back control for the sake of you and the people around you.
Now there are a lot of myths about masturbation6 that are commonly believed and need to be debunked before I go deeper into the impact of masturbation addiction.
masturbation Facts
- Relieve tension.
- Reduce stress
- Improve sleep
- Increase your focus
- Can help with aches and pain
- Enhance your sex life
- Can prevent anxiety and depression
masturbation Myths
- blindness
- hairy palms
- impotence later in life
- erectile dysfunction
- penis shrinkage
- penis curvature
- low sperm count
- infertility
- mental illness
- physical weakness
Masturbation addiction makes things a lot a lot trickier. You might experience:
- Wasted Time: You might skip important tasks to masturbate.
- Less Closeness: Can lessen intimacy with your partner.
- Distracted Mind: Hard to focus due to constant sexual thoughts.
- Physical Pain: Could hurt or injure yourself if overdone.
- Emotional Guilt: Feelings of shame or regret after the act.
- Avoiding Social Events: You might avoid hanging out with friends.
- Less Energy: Feeling drained or tired frequently.
Steps to Break Free from Masturbation Addiction
So you know you have a masturbation addiction, now what? First of all, it’s good to know you are not alone.
According to statistics from TheReLab7, one in every six women struggle with porn addiction.
They also state that the biggest consumers of porn are boys between 12 and 17.
Now the younger you are the less developed your brain is and the more vulnerable you are to addiction so you can imagine that more men then women are addicted to porn.8
The point I am trying to make is that you shouldn’t be ashamed of yourself.
#1 spotting and Side-Stepping Your Triggers
Remember the triggers I previously talked about?
Think of them as those sneaky little things that push you toward compulsive masturbation. Maybe it’s boredom, maybe it’s stress, or perhaps it’s that late-night Instagram scroll. The first step is to figure out what sparks your compulsive sexual behavior.
For me personally – Instagram was a huge trigger. I don’t know what your feed looks like but I couldn’t scroll for 10 seconds without seeing a half-naked woman.
Once you’ve got a list, try your best to cut ’em out or replace them.
#2 The Power of Support Groups
Another great thing you can do is Joining a support group. The first thing I read about support groups I thought about sitting in a big circle with a group of addicts.
Luckily, there are a bunch of online support groups. I personally used Covenant Eyes which not only puts you in a community with like-minded men who keep each other accountable, but also blocks porn from all your devices.
It is not only great for getting rid of your porn addiction, but also to ask questions and get helpful information about things like semen retention and the potential benefits.
It was a golden nugget.
Learn More >>> The Complete Semen Retention Timeline.
#3 Shedding Masturbation Stigmas
If you’re feeling ashamed or guilty every time, it can feed into the cycle of addiction. Understand that it’s okay to pleasure yourslef; it’s just the compulsive bit that needs a check.
Chat with friends, read up, or even consider speaking to a therapist. The goal is to see masturbation as a normal act, but one that shouldn’t control your life.
#4 Focusing on Personal Relationships
Ever been in a conversation where you’re there, but not really there?
Masturbation addiction can sometimes make us a bit distant. Focusing on our personal relationships can be a game-changer.
Instead of drifting into compulsive thoughts, invest time in catching up with buddies, spending quality moments with family, or planning a surprise date for your partner.
he more you’re engaged in real human connections, the less room there’ll be for boredom and those urges.
Treating Masturbation Addiction
Now if the things I just mentioned still don’t work for you – it might be time to bring in the big guns.
#1 The Talk Route: Embracing Therapy
Therapy is very similar to support groups but instead of a group you get one-on-one coaching from a certified expert who’s trained in understanding things like compulsive sexual behaviors and mental health.
A therapist can help you figure out what’s driving your urges. Maybe you’re dealing with some negative emotions or something deeper from the past. No shame in that.
Everyone has their battles and a therapist can give you tools to handle these feelings without turning to habits that aren’t so great for you.
#2 Don’t Wait: Act Now for Immediate Support
If you feel your use disorders (like constantly turning to masturbation) are taking over, DON’T wait.
There is the SAMSHA National Helpline which is a hotline where you get help from public health agencies. Completly fo free.
#3 Beyond Talk: When Medication Can Help
Sometimes, the brain needs a bit of balancing, and that’s where medication can come in. Some drugs can help reduce those intense urges linked to compulsive behaviors.
I am not a doctor so I can’t recommend you any medicine. Talk about it with your doctor or healthcare provider.
Wrapping Up
Masturbation addiction is not something you should take lightly. It is important for you to first figure out what is your trigger.
Once you figured out your trigger, I recommend joining a support group like Covenant Eyes to block porn from your devices and get connected with men who will keep you accountable.
- Also Read >>> Benefits of Semen Retention (7 Days).
- Also Read >> Benefits of Quitting Porn.
sources
- Professional, C. C. M. (n.d.-a). Dopamine. Cleveland Clinic. ↩︎
- Choosing Therapy. (2023, December 12). Masturbation Addiction: Signs, symptoms & treatments. ↩︎
- Scott, P. S. (2014, April 6). Signs of drug addiction. WebMD. ↩︎
- Professional, C. C. M. (n.d.-d). Masturbation. Cleveland Clinic. ↩︎
- Professional, C. C. M. (n.d.-d). Masturbation. Cleveland Clinic. ↩︎
- Professional, C. C. M. (n.d.-d). Masturbation. Cleveland Clinic. ↩︎
- Robb-Dover, K. (2023, January 15). Revealing Statistics re: Pornography addiction. FHE Health – Addiction & Mental Health Care. ↩︎
- The Porn Gap: Gender differences in pornography use in couple relationships. (n.d.). Institute for Family Studies. ↩︎