Your Medicine Became Your Poison
In case of muscle tension, you need to understand that your muscles are most likely constantly contracted especially in social situations, the stronger the emotional trauma, the harder you have to try for all of those emotions to not spill out in the social setting, and constantly monitor yourself all the time.
The more emotions you have bottled up, the harder it will be for you to loosen up and give up the addictions that keep you from feeling them.
On top of that, you most likely developed muscular holding patterns in order to prevent all of those emotions from spilling out.
All of the unresolved issues that you carry, cause your insecurities and you try to hide them from others.
Because emotions are energy, those suppressed emotions have their own vibrational frequency. Which affects our overall vibration, which determines what you will attract into your life.
Recommended Reading: Why Is Heroin So Addictive
May How Masturbation Addiction Disorder Can Impact Relationships
Masturbation is a normal, natural behavior that almost all of us will indulge in at some point in our lives. For some, masturbation is daily habit, for others it may be weekly or monthly and of course, masturbation is a great way to begin play with a romantic partner in the bedroom.
For some however, masturbation can become more than just a habit. It can escalate from a normal, healthy part of ones life, to a damaging sexual addiction.
The good news is, masturbation addiction disorder is completely treatable. If you think you may be suffering from masturbation addiction disorder, get the help you need and get your life back on track with our renowned Sex Therapist today.
Need Help or Advice?
Consider Reducing Any Stigmas You Feel About Masturbation
If you feel shame and guilt from these compulsions, it can help to remember that the behavior is natural and nothing to be ashamed of. Its important to think about where these fears and insecurities come from and learn to heal from them in order for your relationship with sexual activities to be healthier.
Read Also: St Mary’s Addiction Services
Masturbation Addiction What Is It
Any addiction is a pathological compulsion. The term refers to the continued repetition of certain behaviors even after they have started to have a negative impact on your life.
Generally, when most people start masturbating, they enjoy the practice a healthy amount. However, as with any enjoyable activity, itâs relatively easy to start masturbating too often. If you start masturbating to the point where itâs affecting your social life or mental health, youâre probably experiencing masturbation addiction.
People become addicted to masturbation for different reasons.
There is a biological function for this. The body encourages behaviours that are good for your safety and the future of you and your family. Sex is one of the most important things for securing a healthy future as it allows us to reproduce. However, masturbation does not do this. Masturbation is a temporary release that does not provide any biological benefits.
Whatâs happening here is youâre fooling your brain into releasing dopamine. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of reward and motivation. Naturally, this hormone is released when we accomplish something, eat healthy food, have sex, or exercise. These things are all good and important for survival.
However, because dopamine is so intensely pleasurable, it becomes very addictive. Masturbation is one of the quickest ways to cause a dopamine release in the brain. As such, it is also one of the most addictive habits.
Causes Of Masturbation Addiction
Like its symptoms, causes and triggers of masturbation addiction will vary by individual. Again, these may be impacted by personal predispositions and social influences.8 The more causes and triggers that are present in someones life, the greater the potential susceptibility. With an awareness of these risk factors, more proactive measures may be taken to prevent a problem.
Here are several causes and risk factors for compulsive sexual behavior:8
- An imbalance of natural brain chemicals
- Changes in brain pathways
- Family conflicts or family members with problems such as addiction
- A history of physical or sexual abuse
Note that these causes and risk factors need not be initially present for someone to develop masturbation addiction. The addiction may begin out of an intense enjoyment of self-gratification that progressively leads toward changes in brain pathways, an imbalance of brain chemicals, and other problems and conditions.
You May Like: Best Quotes For Addiction Recovery
Don’t Miss: Is My Child Addicted To Video Games
Effects Of Masturbation Addiction
There are many downsides to masturbating too often.
Excessive masturbation can take a toll on a persons sex drive. Youre shutting down the dopamine receptors by overwhelming your brain regularly. Youll start to feel less and less satisfied with your sex life. Youll experience less pleasure from partnered activities. Youre training your brain and body to crave a particular stimulus that a partner cannot replicate.
Your mental well-being may take a hit as well. For example, the guilt and shame you feel about your masturbation habits can have an immense impact. These negative feelings result in low self-esteem because you feel out of control of your impulses.
Is It Really An Addiction
Theres some debate around whether you can truly be addicted to masturbation.
Although theres been a push to medically recognize masturbation addiction, some say it should be recognized as a compulsion, not an addiction.
Theres no clinical diagnosis for masturbation addiction. Its not recognized as addictive by the American Psychological Association .
Masturbation addiction also isnt recognized as a mental health condition by the recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , which sets the criteria for diagnosing mental health conditions.
Because the APA doesnt consider masturbation to be truly addictive, people often refer to compulsive masturbation instead of a masturbation addiction.
Similarly, some dont consider sex addiction a clinical addiction.
Instead, sex addiction, masturbation addiction, and are usually referred to as:
- compulsive sexual behavior
Recommended Reading: Is .5 Mg Lorazepam Addictive
Signs Of Masturbation Addiction In Different Populations
For young children and adolescents, it is important to decipher between what is considered normal versus atypical sexual behavior. Again, sexuality is a fundamental aspect of the human experience, even at a young age. The following warning signs are specific to problematic sexual behavior in general but may be an indicator of potential masturbation addiction as well.
Typical and atypical behaviors by age group are as follows:
Causes Of Chronic Masturbation
What are the causes of masturbation addiction? Below are some potential causes of feeling the need to excessively or compulsively masturbate:
- Underlying depression or anxiety that you manage by using masturbation to lift your mood, relax, or reduce stress
- An inclination toward addiction because of your neurobiology
- Emotional pain caused by life circumstances that you seek to push away by focusing on addictive sexual behaviors
Don’t Miss: What Is The Most Addictive Drug In America
Contact Bai To Learn More About Sex Addiction
How much is too much masturbation? At Begin Again Institute, we can help you determine if your masturbation habit has become an addiction. If so, we can help you create a plan for getting control of your life again. All you need to do is reach out to us to get more information or start healing today.
How To Stop Masturbating
If youre worried and want to know how to stop masturbating, Sher says its important to remember in and of itself, there is nothing wrong or unhealthy about masturbation. But, he says its necessary to practice healthy masturbation habits in order to avoid possible negative outcomes.
As with any addiction, Hill points out that the first step to getting help is to acknowledge there may be a problem and that you want to change your behaviours.
As with any addiction, the first step to getting help is to acknowledge there may be a problem.
If your masturbating habit has reached a point that feels problematic, know you are not alone. Sher advises you seek out support from an appropriately trained health professional. Speak to a clinical psychologist with experience in treating addiction, or a sex therapist, in order to get some support, he says.
Moyle says, It can be useful to speak to someone and access help to better understand what is going on for you, any potential triggers and to help you change your behaviour to a more healthy one that works for you.
You May Like: Where Do Addiction Counselors Work
Impact Of Too Much Masturbation
There are no particularly debilitating aspects of excessive masturbation. This does not mean that too much masturbation is without consequences.
Dangerous Impact of Excessive Masturbation on Ones Health Includes:
- Depression caused by negative feelings about moral values and spiritual beliefs
- It may lead to reduced sexual sensitivity
The individual in question might need a therapist to proffer the right treatment regimen or refer the addict to a support group.
How To Stop Masturbation Addiction On Your Own
Perhaps the most common issue with masturbation addiction, especially in married couples, is how it affects ones relationship with the partner. They soon start to feel neglected, inadequate, and frustrated. The following addresses how to stop masturbation, and it does not focus on issues such as why people want to stop masturbating or whether or not it is healthy.
There are so many ways to confront the masturbation problem, but they are all very likely to fall under one of a few categories.
One can stop masturbation addiction in a few ways when one considers how to stop masturbating some of these ways which have been described in this study are discussed below:
Read Also: How To Treat Sugar Addiction
Symptoms Of Compulsive Masturbation
Chronic masturbation is not uncommon and is usually diagnosed by a therapist, alongside other physical and mental health problems. When done excessively, it becomes a real problem. It is then categorized into what is clinically referred to as compulsive sexual behavior. How can a person tell that they are suffering from chronic masturbation? Upon close observation, one may spot out characteristics that are similar to a person with chronic masturbation.
These are Some of the Symptoms of Compulsive Masturbation:
Who This Course Is For:
Hey! I am Kanwal Saleem, a Gender Psychologist, Content Creator, and Freelancer. My mission is to make psychology education more accessible to a wider audience to raise the standard of mental health knowledge in society. I love helping people change and Iâm willing to be creative in how I help that happen.
Recommended Reading: Charities For Addiction And Mental Health
You May Like: How Does Nad Help With Addiction
Etiology Of The Compulsive Masturbator
The person who masturbates to the point of injury presents some specific clinical challenges. The etiology of the compulsive masturbator is complex. As with other clients we see for sexually acting out behaviors, there was often a history of shame, abuse, and neglect in their family of origin. Many clients who engage in compulsive masturbation recall beginning the behavior at a very early age as their only form of respite and escape from an environment filled with fear, secrecy, and trauma.
For the compulsive masturbator who does so to the point of injury, the analytical aspects of self-harm are varied. Often, the person describes a sense of dissociation and depersonalization. Engaging in self-harm allows the person to simultaneously dissociate from their overwhelming anxiety and emotional pain, while at the same time feeling some sense of aliveness through their physical pain. Following the masturbatory self-harm episode, the person has a cathartic flood of endorphins that may provide a numbing effect.
Of particular interest in examining this form of self-harm behavior is to look at the associated neuropathways. The arousal neuropathway is about pleasure and intensity. One of the most common methods of stimulating arousal pathways are high-risk sex, which masturbating to the point of injury would be included in. The numbing neuropathway produces a calming, relaxing, soothing, or sedative process. Masturbation creates an analgesic experience in the brain.
What Causes Masturbation Addiction
There are a number of different things that can contribute to masturbation addiction. Here are a few examples of common causes of masturbation addiction.
- Improper education about masturbation and healthy sexual practices.
- Unhealthy sexual habits. If you regularly engage in unhealthy sexual practices, it can be easy to distort your perception of what is helpful and what is necessary when it comes to sexuality. This can easily lead to masturbation addiction.
- Substance abuse and addiction. Substance abuse can also lead to masturbation addiction. Certain drugs, especially stimulants like amphetamines are cocaine, tend to increase libido in extreme amounts. If you use these drugs, you are more likely to engage in compulsive masturbating for extended periods of time.
- Boredom. One of the major causes of addictions of any type is boredom. If you do not have any fulfilling hobbies, activities, or social engagements, then youâre naturally going to be looking for something to find fulfillment with. Since masturbation causes a release of the same chemicals the creative sensation of fulfillment and peace, many people turn to it as a source of satisfaction.
Don’t Miss: Why Are Pain Pills So Addictive
How To Get Help For A Loved One
It is likely that your loved one is struggling in other areas of life. By showing support and being actively engaged in the recovery process, the likelihood of one recovering is increased. Helping a loved one requires much more than telling the other to just stop and setting boundaries it requires being there in a supportive role.
What Is Masturbation
Masturbation involves the self-stimulation of your sexual organs. The goal of this act or practice is to achieve sexual satisfaction and/or sexual climax. It may also be used to help relieve stress, anxiety, boredom, and pent-up sexual tension. Both males and females engage in masturbation however, it appears to be more common in males.
However, masturbating too much can negatively affect your self-confidence and relationships. Excessive masturbation can also lead to masturbation addiction or if porn use is involved. It is important to note that masturbation does not always lead to addiction. In fact, occasionally masturbating when sexual intercourse is impossible can actually be healthy, fun, gratifying, and relieving.
Recommended Reading: How To Help Someone Addicted To Adderall
What You Can Do
Masturbation addiction can be treated by attending sex addict anonymous groups, accessing self-help or going to group therapy, which Peter believes is the most effective way of overcoming an addiction. It works by normalising the issue, supporting the individual and working together within the group until they have overcome the addiction.
If you need help or advice, you can find your nearest Relate centre here or chat online to one of their counsellors.
Follow Megan on .
When Does Masturbation Become Concerning
There is a point for some people when masturbation becomes a concern. It goes from being a random activity or even a habit to being an addiction.
Sexual addiction develops because of a desire for dopamine release.
When you experience sexual pleasure, your brain releases a pleasure chemical called dopamine. Dopamine helps people understand what feels good so that they can repeat that activity.
But, dopamine also plays an integral role in forming an addiction.
Masturbation, similar to methamphetamine, causes your brain to produce this feel-good chemical. Your brain learns that what youve done feels good. Therefore, you should do it again to trigger the same positive feelings.
Experiencing something overwhelmingly stimulating does something surprising to a persons brain. The brain releases an excessive amount of dopamine. As a way to combat this rush of chemicals, the brain starts shutting down its dopamine receptors.
When someone becomes addicted to an activity, its because they still seek that original dopamine hit that the receptors no longer provide. So they then have to escalate the activity to get the same dopamine release.
Don’t Miss: What Drugs Are Used To Treat Addiction
Use The Seinfeld Strategy
Jerry Seinfeld has a simple strategy for writing jokes that we can alter for our purposes here.
Every day, hes committed to writing one joke. He keeps a calendar with a marker next to it and every day, when he writes his joke, he crosses one of the days off, creating a chain of positive habits.
His rule is simple: Never break the chain.
I encourage you to do the same thing.
Keep a visual reminder somewhere in your house of how many days its been since you last relapsed and use it as a source of encouragement and inspiration when the urges strike.
You May Like: What Are The Three Câs Of Addiction
Make Some New Connections
If you think your masturbation is related to this, then donât hesitate to try to reach out to friends both old and new. Making new friends isnât always easy, especially if you donât socialize a lot already. This is one of the reasons that joining a support group can be useful.
If you canât or donât want to join a support group, there are still plenty of other ways to meet people. You can join a new group or team, take part in a group activity, or spend time at a social club where there are other people. You can also meet people online. This allows you to match certain interests and assess whether or not youâll get along with someone before you actually meet up with them.
Also Check: How To Get Off Sugar Addiction
If Youre Concerned About A Loved One
Remember that masturbation itself is a healthy, normal human behavior.
However, if their behavior is affecting their relationships, work, school, or mental health, it could be a sign of a larger issue.
Because of societal stigma around masturbation, your loved one might feel too shy or embarrassed to talk to you about it.
Start the conversation by emphasizing that youre not judging them, and you arent trying to make them feel ashamed.
Suggest some practical solutions like seeing a therapist or joining a support group and offer to help them find a few local options.
This might help them feel like they have a solid plan in place.
