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Why Do We Masturbate?
Masturbation is one of the safest sexual acts. Plus, of course, it is completely normal and natural. Whether you’re single or in a relationship, there’s nothing shameful about masturbation. It’s a wonderful way to explore your sexuality, figure out your likes and dislikes, and improve your relationship with your body. All of this, with no chance of any STIs or STDs! Even with your partner(s), mutual masturbation can be the safest way to enjoy intimacy without risks of infections or unwanted pregnancies.
Well, it’s no surprise that most people enjoy masturbating every now and then. For a lot of people, it acts as a way to unwind and relax.
Masturbation has several benefits. It helps achieve stress release, acts as an outlet for sexual tension, promotes better sleep, helps develop an improved body image, reduces muscle pain, and improves overall mood.
Masturbation has some additional benefits for people with penises. Regular and frequent ejaculation in men can help reduce the chances of prostate cancer. Compared to people who don’t masturbate often, those who do have a 32% lower chance of prostate cancer.
Masturbating regularly can also help sustain an erection in men for longer periods, which means better sex with your partner(s)!
But if masturbation is both fun and good for you, would it still be good if you’re masturbating too much? And when it comes to masturbation, is there such a thing as ‘too much’?
Can You Get Addicted To Masturbation?
There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to sex and masturbation. What may seem like too much to you may be normal for someone else. Masturbation only becomes a problem if it starts hampering other areas of your life or affecting your health and well-being.
Well, is it possible to get addicted to masturbation? TL;DR: yes. Excessive masturbation, sex addiction, and porn addiction problem are all characterized by compulsive sexual behaviour. You might find yourself masturbating just for the sake of it, sometimes even without actually wanting to. When this happens, masturbation becomes an obligation rather than something you’re actively choosing to do.
Certain signs can indicate whether your solo fun is turning into a concern:
- You’re spending too much time masturbating, to the extent that it takes time away from your other obligations.
- The urge is so compulsive at times that you end up masturbating in places where you normally wouldn’t, such as public places.
- Sometimes you masturbate even when you’re not aroused or in the mood.
- You use masturbation as a coping mechanism when you’re feeling low.
- Instead of feeling good, you feel guilty during and after masturbating.
- You think about masturbating even when you’re doing other things or are around other people.
- You find yourself wanting to stay home and masturbate, even if that means cancelling plans made in advance with your friends and loved ones.
- You’ve been masturbating so often that partnered sex no longer feels satisfactory or pleasurable, and you’d much rather ditch your partner and spend some time alone instead.
What Happens if You Masturbate Too Much?
While healthy masturbation habits can improve your overall well-being and sex life, masturbating compulsively does the opposite. It can lead to problems in partnered sex, such as difficulty maintaining an erection and performance anxiety. This can lead to lower sexual satisfaction for you and your partner(s).
Not being able to control how often you masturbate can also reduce your self-esteem and lead to feelings of helplessness and guilt. You might also find yourself lagging in work/academics.
Some other harmful side effects of masturbation include damaged skin in the pubic region or irritation and redness, especially if you’re not using adequate lubrication.
When to Seek Medical Help?
Getting over a compulsive habit or addiction is often not as easy as simply stopping. If you’re struggling with getting out of the pattern of excessive masturbation, seeking professional help can be a great step.
You may want to consult a sex therapist, a doctor, or both. Regular psychotherapy can help you identify the causes behind the compulsive urge to masturbate. Often, this can look like using masturbation as a way of coping with the stresses of daily life, not feeling confident enough around your partner, or struggling to find satisfaction in partnered sex.
An experienced therapist will also be able to help you find healthier alternatives, such as physical exercise, and also figure out how to spend more time on other things you enjoy. It’s a slow and gradual process, but with the right effort and guidance, you can go back to spending more time with your partner and loved ones while ensuring that you can masturbate when you really want to, and not just because you have to.
If you are facing any similar issues and would like to access judgement-free and confidential support from the comfort of your home, we have you covered! Our team of experts at Rocket Health can help you with all your sexual health concerns. Your sexual health and well-being shouldn’t be a cause of shame. Connect with our professionals today and create a treatment plan that is made just for you!
