How To Stop A Masturbation Addiction
This article was co-authored by Natalia S. David, PsyD. Dr. David is an Assistant Professor in Psychology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and a Psychiatry Consultant at Clements University Hospital and at Zale Lipshy University Hospital. She is a member of the Board of Behavioral Sleep Medicine, the Academy for Integrative Pain Management, and the American Psychological Associations Division of Health Psychology. In 2017, she received the Baylor Scott & White Research Institutes Podium Presentation Award and scholarship. She received her PsyD from Alliant International University in 2017 with an emphasis in Health Psychology.There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 13,373,022 times.
Masturbation happens in every culture, across every period of history, and it’s the way most adolescents discover what they enjoy before embarking on adult sexual relationships. Masturbation is a healthy and natural part of human sexuality and development. However, if you are unable to control your urge to masturbate or if frequent masturbation is interfering with your school, work, or social life, then it’s possible to gain control.
Meditate To Relieve Stress
If there is one thing you take away from this article it would be the power of meditationif you were to start with one thing this would be it. Here are just some scientifically-backed benefits of meditation:
If there was ever a panacea for the brain I think this would be it. And the best part about it? Meditation can be done anywhere and anytime.
If you are unsure where to start, there are a variety of meditation videos on . There are also a variety of apps like Headspace and FitMind that offer a free trial for the first couple of sessions. There are certain guided meditations with different purposes like reducing anxiety, self-empowerment, or inner peace. Whatever your goal is, you can find a meditation for you. Starting out, guided meditation apps and videos are helpful to gain an understanding of how meditation works. After a couple of sessions, youll have to power to meditate anywhere you want!
Decide To Break An Addiction
Most people with an unhealthy addiction want to make a change but have a lot of self doubt. The first step to stopping an addiction, is to be willing to believe its possible.
Unfortunately, many people are not willing to believe in the possibility of recovering from an addiction. And so they never decide to break the addiction.
They tell themselves defeating addiction stories like:
- Its not possible.
- Ill forever be this way.
- I tried before and it didnt work.
- This runs in my family and its just the way it is.
- Im not strong enough.
- I dont see any method which will work for me.
You have to replace this negative self talk with these 3 simple positive phrases:
- I am willing to believe that Im capable of breaking this addiction. Im willing to try to break this addiction. I can break my addiction.
Whenever self doubt enters your mind, repeat those 3 phrases above. Soon you will be more open to deciding to break the addiction. And youll be more energized and ready to move forward with added inner strength.
Next up
- Think about the reasons and benefits for breaking your addiction.
- Become clear on reasonable goals.
- Determine the steps needed to attain these reasonable goals.
- Celebrate the milestones, no matter how small.
This is the best time to consult with doctors, therapists, counselors and coaches.
Also Check: How To Cope With Addiction
Meditate To Knock Out That Bad Habit
Your life derives definitions from what you repeatedly do, not what you do once in a while. Thus, developing a knock-out strategy on how to stop bad habits is a must and not an option for total transformation.
A lot of individuals have at least one or two bad habits they wish to discard. Some people are heavy smokers, and they want to quit. Some others aspire to minimize their consumption of sugar and alcohol. Some people are also battling with less dangerous habits such as nail-biting, nose picking, and they find it difficult to let go.
Several practices exist on how to stop those bad habits. Meditation is of them.
People who practice mindfulness and meditation achieves two things:
First, they become more self-aware. As you start to meditate, you progressively penetrate each layer of your being and move beyond the delusions and lies that you often believe about yourself.
Second, they focus on reality and what they desire. Meditation assists in identifying what will satisfy you beyond what those bad habits can. You will learn how to stop bad habits by visualizing reality while discarding the bad behavior.
What If Substance Abuse Is A Part Of A Co
If a substance abuse or addiction disorder is a part of the experience of a clientseeking treatment for a behavioral addiction, it is essential that treatment for that substance abuse disorder is integratedinto the overall treatment plan.For many clients, the urge to drink or do drugs is coupled with the urge to engage in the process addiction. For example,some say that as soon as they get a drink in hand, the next thought is gambling. Others may include the use of stimulantdrugs as a part of their ritual when they engage in behaviors triggered by or related to sex addiction. No matter what thecombination of disorders is, it is often recommended that the person enroll in a residential treatment center that is equippedwith the staff, resources, and experience to empower healing on all fronts.
How To Stop An Addiction Behavior
Addictive behaviors are the actual actions that you take that cause your addiction. For example, addictive behavior can be drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol is particularly an addictive behavior for an alcoholic. Essentially though, any behavior that exhibits addictive tendencies is addictive.;
For example, common addictive behaviors include drinking alcohol, using substances, and constantly having access to the internet. Other common addictive behaviors include having sex to replace intimacy, self-medicating oneself through drugs, excessively shopping, and not believing that one is capable of stopping using drugs.;
Stopping an addiction behavior is difficult to do. The only way to effectively stop an addictive behavior is to consistently make efforts to do so over time. To stop an addiction behavior, you also need to first learn how to manage stress and your addiction triggers. The actual steps to stopping an addiction behavior are given below.
Quitting An Addictive Behavior
Quitting is a different experience for everyone. Some find the process liberating and empowering, and feel they can achieve anything. Others find it painful, difficult, and frustrating, sometimes needing many failed attempts before achieving their goal. Still others discover new sides to themselves during the quitting process .
There is no “right” way to feel while you are quitting. But if you are feeling depressed or find yourself constantly wanting to return to the addictive behavior, you should seek support and treatment.
Believe You Are Worth Living A Good Life
Your forgiveness will take some time. Although, for me; what goes hand and hand with forgiveness is what you feel you are worthy of. Positive Self-Worth is hard for many people to acquire, shit it was hard for me too! But the truth is WE ARE ALL WORTH EVERY SINGLE OUNCE OF GOOD IN THIS UNIVERSE. No matter what we think we have done wrong, or what has been told to us. If you are taking steps to be a better person, and to better your life than you already deserve it all.
When I finally stopped my self-degrading thoughts, and asked myself WHY AM I NOT WORTHY of having good in my life?Something hit me. Like a ton of bricks! I realized the only reasons I kept coming up with were because OF WHAT OTHER PEOPLE TOLD ME!;Once this happened, it was like my wings had been freed after years of them being clipped.
And I want this for you.
STOP GIVING OTHER PEOPLE SO MUCH CONTROL OF YOUR MIND, VIEWS, AND BELIEFS. ESPECIALLY ONES ABOUT YOURSELF! Once you let go of that attachment it will be easier to see things more clear. <3
Stop Addictive Behaviors With Help From Amatus Recovery Centers
Addictive behaviors can adversely affect every aspect of a persons life. If you or a loved one is in the midst of addiction, it can feel as though there is no hope for a better way of life. However, the truth is that help is available today at Amatus Recovery Centers. Our wide range of addiction treatment programs and therapeutic approaches are customized to fit the specific needs of the individual in recovery. For more information about our programs, contact Amatus Recovery Centers by calling or completing our online contact form. Our team is ready to provide specialized care for any form of addictive behavior, so take the first step in recovery by contacting us today.
Identify The Consequences Of Bad Habits
Bad habits have grave consequences. According to WebMD, bad habits affect nearly every organ of your body. They can lead to cancer, stroke, emphysema, diabetes, heart disease, bronchitis, and other health problems. Bad habits can increase the chances of eye problems, tuberculosis, and several immune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. It becomes easy to stop those bad habits when you are aware of their consequences.
Quitting And Handling Withdrawal
Try To Identify And Avoid Triggers
Try to find out what prompts your substance use.
Maybe you reach for that drink only when youre with certain friends or at a specific restaurant or bar. Perhaps you crave that substance only when youre bored or stressed.
Preventing recurrence of use by being aware of the places, people, or emotions that cause you to reach for that substance can be an important part of your recovery.
Prolonged use of substances can change the brains function and structure. It can affect parts of the brain responsible for:
- reward
abstinence from substance use might give the brain the time it needs to recover from those changes and return to its regular function. Frequent use recurrences, on the other hand, may make recovery longer.
Once youve identified what causes or prompts your substance use, consider developing a plan to manage them and practice avoiding them.
Impulse Control And Addictive Behaviors
Impulse control is the ability to fight temptation and stop using. Many drug users struggle with this. As a result of long-term substance use, impulse control becomes more difficult the longer you neglect going to rehab. Without impulse control, a person doesnt have a pause button between a trigger and their addictive behavior. However, in a quality drug rehab facility, youll learn positive coping methods for keeping this under control.
What Kinds Of Things Can Be Addictive
Addiction is a mental illness that involves the reward pathways of your brain. Anything that activates these reward pathways can become addictive. Some things, like sex and gambling, are more likely to do this than others. But really, pretty much anything that feels good can become addictive. It depends less on the behavior itself, and more on how that behavior makes you feel.
Common Features Of Behavioral Addictions: Relationship To Substance Use Disorders
The essential feature of behavioral addictions is the failure to resist an impulse, drive, or temptation to perform an act that is harmful to the person or to others . Each behavioral addiction is characterized by a recurrent pattern of behavior that has this essential feature within a specific domain. The repetitive engagement in these behaviors ultimately interferes with functioning in other domains. In this respect, the behavioral addictions resemble substance use disorders. Individuals with substance addictions report difficulties in resisting the urge to drink or use drugs.
Behavioral and substance addictions have many similarities in natural history, phenomenology, and adverse consequences. Both have onset in adolescence and young adulthood and higher rates in these age groups than among older adults . Both have natural histories that may exhibit chronic, relapsing patterns, but with many people recovering on their own without formal treatment .
As in substance use disorders, financial and marital problems are common in behavioral addictions. Individuals with behavioral addictions, like those with substance addictions, will frequently commit illegal acts, such as theft, embezzlement, and writing bad checks, to either fund their addictive behavior or cope with the consequences of the behavior .
Take Small Steps To Setting Patterns
Patterns dont take hold instantly. It takes time for a pattern to become a pattern or for an action to become a habit. Pretend you drink everyday , and you have a goal of completely becoming sober from drinking alcohol. Instead of quitting cold turkey and suddenly stop drinking, meanwhile putting yourself at risk for withdrawal, it is easier and more efficient to limit yourself to smaller drinking patterns. Setting small goals such as only allowing yourself one drink today with dinner rather than a drink with every meal makes it easier to follow and easier to track how well you are progressing in your goals, therefore motivating you to continue your journey.
Emerging Trends In Substance Misuse:
- MethamphetamineIn 2019, NSDUH data show that approximately 2;million people used methamphetamine in the past year. Approximately 1;million people had a methamphetamine use disorder, which was higher than the percentage in 2016, but similar to the percentages in 2015 and 2018. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that overdose death rates involving methamphetamine have quadrupled from 2011 to 2017. Frequent meth use is associated with mood disturbances, hallucinations, and paranoia.
- CocaineIn 2019, NSDUH data show an estimated 5.5 million people aged 12 or older were past users of cocaine, including about 778,000 users of crack. The CDC reports that overdose deaths involving have increased by one-third from 2016 to 2017. In the short term, cocaine use can result in increased blood pressure, restlessness, and irritability. In the long term, severe medical complications of cocaine use include heart attacks, seizures, and abdominal pain.
- KratomIn 2019, NSDUH data show that about 825,000;people had used Kratom;in the past month. Kratom is a tropical plant that grows naturally in Southeast Asia with leaves that can have psychotropic effects by affecting opioid brain receptors. It is currently unregulated and has risk of abuse and dependence. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that health effects of Kratom can include nausea, itching, seizures, and hallucinations.
Resources:
Can You Be Addicted To A Behavior
Traditionally, the term addiction has been applied to people whose drug or alcohol use has become a serious problem. But today, many mental health specialists agree that behaviors can be addictive, too. Treatments have been developed for sex addiction, gambling addiction, food addiction, and many others.
People also throw the word addiction around a lot in everyday conversation: Im so addicted to chocolate! It can make it hard to understand where to draw the line between being addicted to something and just doing it a lot. Especially since most of these behaviors are fine in moderationsome are even healthy or even necessary ! So how can you tell when your behavior is becoming a problem?
How Are Behavioral Addictions Treated
Unfortunately, these behavioral addictions are relatively new to the medical and mental health lexicon. The prevalence of these disorders has increased in tandem with the rise in technology, which is a new phenomenon. Right now, there is no standardized method for diagnosing these disorders, but mental health professionals can help people overcome them and develop healthier ways of dealing with these compulsions. Cognitive behavioral therapy, talk therapy, and group therapy are known to be effective in helping treat these addictions.
Also, people with behavioral addictions often suffer from comorbid mental health disorders or substance abuse. Doctors will usually diagnose and treat these disorders while also developing a treatment plan for the behavioral addiction.
People with behavioral addictions may not suffer the same physical risks to their health that people with drug addiction experience. But, leaving a behavioral disorder untreated can cause immense suffering for the person addicted and their loved ones. If you or someone you care about has a behavioral disorder, dont hesitate to contact a qualified therapist and get the help you need.
Learn How To Stop An Addiction Behavior In Addiction Treatment At Grace Land Recovery
The best place to learn how to stop an addictive behavior is at a rehab facility such as Grace Land Recovery. Here at Grace Land Recovery, we offer a wide variety of addiction treatment programs and therapies. Through these programs and therapies, rehab patients learn how to both identify and manage their addiction triggers. Through our treatment programs and addiction therapies, rehab patients will also learn proper coping mechanisms to help them manage their addiction triggers.;
One of the primary forms of addiction therapy that Grace Land Recovery offers is cognitive-behavioral therapy. Through our cognitive-behavioral therapy, our rehab patients can learn how to change their negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors into positive ones. This, in turn, will help our patients stop exhibiting their addictive behaviors.;
We here at Grace Land also offer our patients many unique clinical services such as HIV education and nutrition and spirituality services. Through these services, our rehab patients will be able to make a smooth transition back into the real world after they complete their treatment.; Ultimately, through all of the addiction treatment programs, therapies, and services that we offer here at Grace Land Recovery, rehab patients will be able to both achieve recovery and stop exhibiting their addictive behaviors.;
