Masturbation Addiction – The Ultimate Guide

Efforts to “cure” masturbation addiction appeared from around the 1700s across Europe and North America. Clergy, physicians and psychoanalysts (including Sigmund Freud) spoke out against it penned various publications, raising health concerns ranging from insanity to disease and even death.

Masturbation, however, is as old as humankind and included in many ancient texts and artworks. It’s normal and healthy, and today we know it doesn’t bring on any dreaded disease or lead to death.

For many, masturbation is wrong and even evil, leading to guilt if they do it or shame if they know a family member is engaging. Religious, social and cultural conditioning has a massive effect on people’s sexuality, leading to unnecessary anxiety, despair, rejection and even punishment.

A problem only arises when someone cannot control their urge to masturbate to the extent that it negatively impacts their life.

This article will explore the realities, potential causes, and what to do if you or a loved one suffers from masturbation addiction.

What is masturbation addiction?

Masturbation is to stimulate your own genitalia to reach an orgasm. Addiction can be described as an uncontrollable compulsion to excessively masturbate.

Many people masturbate more than once a day, while others never do, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, excessive urges can lead to an unstoppable need to engage irrespective of appropriateness, time or location.

This becomes unhealthy if it leads to engaging in front of others at home, work, or in public. Witnessing this kind of conduct can be very traumatizing for people and lead to complete rejection and stigmatization.

Society might brand someone found masturbating a sexual deviant inclined to sex crimes, which can cause immense suffering to that person and their family. It’s essential to note that no evidence ties masturbation addiction into sexually motivated crimes, but public masturbation is an offence in most countries.

Instead, what it usually is, is a form of self-soothing or consolation. Although it may be for pleasure alone, most people can control urges when that’s the case.

A desperate need for self-soothing or consolation usually indicates further underlying issues, such as other addictions or mental health problems.

On its own, masturbation addiction isn’t a recognized, diagnosable condition.

Why masturbation addiction isn’t recognized

Mind-altering substances don’t drive masturbation addiction, and it’s a normal action, so it isn’t accepted as an addiction by influential professional bodies.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) excluded it under addictions in the current fifth edition of The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Instead, it’s listed under “other specified sexual dysfunction”.

In the most recent International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), the World Health Organization (WHO) defined it as an impulse disorder described as being “characterized by a persistent pattern of failure to control intense, repetitive sexual impulses or urges resulting in repetitive sexual behavior“.

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines all addictions as chronic brain disorders. This includes reward-seeking behaviors such as masturbation, gambling and sex.

To date, no official US controlling body for sex and relationship therapy or psycho-sexual counselling has accepted masturbation addiction as a separate condition with distinct treatment protocols either.

No diagnostic proposal has yet been approved into any official government diagnostic manual. Therefore, treatment is provided mainly by professional counsellors who specialize in different addictions.

Diagnostic and treatment models are often based on research and publications from the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP), founded by the renowned sex addiction counselor, Patrick Carnes.

There are no reliable statistics to indicate how prevalent or widespread the problem is.

What causes masturbation addiction?

Very little research has been conducted into masturbation as an addiction to date, and references can only be drawn from studies on hypersexuality and sex addiction.

That considered, the most conspicuous causes are mental health issues, other existing addictions and prior abuse.

In healthy individuals, masturbation is known to reduce stress and encourage relaxation. One of the hypotheses is that people with underlying problems simply use masturbation to feel better. If the other issues aren’t addressed, though, the use of masturbation as a pacifier can become an obsession.

Dysfunctional, unsettled or abusive family environments that offer little support and comfort can encourage masturbation for comfort, even in children. Indications are that if the situation changes, the activity stops.

Genetics point to an impulse control or personality disorder that triggers hypersexuality rather than causing masturbation addiction in itself.

Hormones can have an impact, particularly in younger people. Throughout the teens and twenties, plenty of masturbation is perfectly normal and then usually begins tapering off. However, sexual desire and certain medications can also trigger hormone surges or imbalances at any age.

Anxiety, depression and mood disorders can lead to low self-esteem, lack of confidence, performance anxiety, and social isolation that can influence the overuse of masturbation.

Relationship problems may be a cause if a partner is made to be or feels sexually inadequate. Rejection or knowing that the other partner is involved in extra-marital affairs might trigger masturbation addiction too. That said, masturbation in a happy relationship isn’t abnormal and doesn’t need overreaction either.

Children subjected to sexual abuse or exposed to pornography and sex can use masturbation to express their experiences. This can lead to compulsive behavior because of the soothing effects. A child’s mind’s immaturity cannot healthily process or embrace sexuality, so experiences become distorted as they grow up.

Drug use is a factor, particularly when substances such as cocaine and methamphetamine are used regularly and the user is inclined to social isolation.

Neurological disorders and brain injuries might encourage masturbation addiction in the same way they influence hypersexuality.

In short, masturbation addiction is usually considered a symptom of a more significant problem rather than an isolated condition.

Signs you have a masturbation addiction

Masturbating affects the brain’s reward system by triggering dopamine release, which in turn creates a sense of euphoria and pleasure. This is entirely natural and healthy but can become a problem if you start chasing the reward desire.

Symptoms you have a problem include –

• Preoccupation with masturbation to the exclusion of all else
• Gradual loss of control over thoughts about masturbation
• A high sex drive and continued self-pleasuring throughout the day and night
• Loss of sexual satisfaction and reduced sensitivity
• Urinary tract infections due to poor hygiene
• Physical injury and bruising to the genital area
• Risky and inappropriate masturbation in public places or where you can easily be seen
• Spending a lot of time masturbating leaving little time for other things
• Compromised personal or work life because of masturbation
• Choosing to live in virtual isolation to allow time for continued masturbation
• Masturbating without an urge or sexual arousal
• Using masturbation to cope with negative emotions or events
• Turning to masturbation to avoid feelings or to find consolation
• A decline in self-confidence, self-esteem and ability to socialize in a healthy way
• Being upset with yourself or feeling guilty during or after masturbation

How to stop masturbating

Indications are that many people go through stages of excessive masturbation. Most can stop on their own without professional help when they decide they want to or if their external world changes.

Here are a few ways to curb masturbation –

• Be honest about the problem and write down how it’s negatively impacting your life
• Masturbation carries a social stigma, but if you can share it with someone you trust, your problem will become much lighter
• Decide to see a therapist to work through problems you’re aware of and to identify if there are things you’re unaware of
• Keep busy and avoid having too much downtime or time alone, so your mind doesn’t have time to start obsessing
• Adopt a healthy diet and start doing physical exercises to nurture your body; a change in lifestyle can direct focus to a more healthy attitude and approach
• Stop reading or watching pornography completely
• Wear extra clothing to create a barrier between your genitals and external stimuli such as tight jeans or things placed on your lap
• Sleep with a few pairs of underwear on; a single layer doesn’t dull touch sensations while sleeping, and this can lead to stimulation and mindless masturbation
• Avoid crossing your legs tightly and placing pressure on your genitals that can cause stimulation
• Don’t give up: if you fail in your attempts, accept it and keep trying in the knowledge that you will eventually stop

While you’re working on recovery, always practice self-kindness because you will inevitably relapse. When that happens, figure out what triggered you and take steps to prevent that from happening again.

Keep in mind that masturbation is normal, and it took time to become out of control. Likewise, it will take time to let go of it. As soon as you have control again, educate yourself on human sexuality by reading books and researching.

If your attitude towards sex and your body is influenced by religious or social conditioning or sexual abuse, find a therapist and get help, so the problem doesn’t reoccur.

How to treat masturbation addiction

Any treatment for behavioral addictions is only as successful as your commitment to healing and change. Don’t allow your own or others prejudices to prevent you from getting help. Accepting the problem is a massive stride towards a successful recovery.

It’s essential to find a healthcare professional who’s experienced in treating sexual disorders, including masturbation; otherwise, the problem could be dismissed.

Currently, only private therapists treat masturbation addiction in face-to-face sessions, either in person or online. Treatment centers will usually only consider inpatient treatment if it forms part of dual addictions to something else that warrants 24-hour care. Unfortunately, the lack of professional recognition means treatment isn’t covered by health insurance.

Successful treatment is mainly in the form of talk therapy, and if the counsellor suspects other, more serious mental or physical health problems exist, they’ll refer you appropriately.

Support groups are beneficial because they provide a safe space within a peer-support environment. All support groups are run and attended by addicts in various recovery stages who can identify with your problems and provide advice and encouragement. They work very well to keep you responsible if accountability is what you’re looking for.

How to help someone with a masturbation addiction

Total judgement-free acceptance is vital if you want to help someone. Before you approach them, carefully check your opinions and biases around self-pleasuring. If you come across as condescending or critical, you’re likely to do more harm than good to both of you.

Wait for the most appropriate time when everyone’s relaxed, and the situation is private enough to speak openly. Since masturbation addiction is a solo activity that doesn’t pose a significant risk, it’s unadvisable to try an intervention.

Even if they’re caring, a group of people addressing a very personal and often embarrassing issue will probably end in hostile retaliation by the addict. Choose someone close to them who they’re likely to trust and let them do the talking one-on-one.

Approach with caution, but most importantly with love and kindness. Assure the addict that this is to help them, not shame them. Avoid asking questions such as “why” or “can’t you just stop”. They probably don’t know why themselves, and if they could stop, they would, particularly if it’s negatively impacting their life.

The whole experience can be very humiliating for the addict, so don’t set harsh ultimatums or make threats. See the entire exercise as a way to let them know that you understand and care. Plant the mental seed of getting help and finding recovery rather than dictating how things must happen.

This is such a sensitive subject that you’d want to give the addict the dignity of seeing the value for themselves instead of being bundled into treatment. Have options at hand before the conversation begins and let the addict go through and consider them.

You can definitely set rules and boundaries from the start, though and once they’re in place, make sure you stick to them. For instance, things like keeping hands away from genitalia while with family or in public, masturbating in private and cleaning up after themselves are well within what can be expected.

If the addict is financially reliant on you or unemployed, set a budget that covers only their necessities and strongly encourage them to get on with their studies or find a job. Also, they must carry their share of responsibilities within the household, and that’s not negotiable. The more idle time they have, the more likely they are to masturbate.

Where anyone else in the home owns pornographic magazines, movies or watches online, ensure that the addicts doesn’t see it or have access.

Remember, healing and recovery are a step-by-step process of courage and learning. Allow treatment for masturbation addiction to happen at its own pace. Although it might be difficult, a gentle approach will be much more successful in the long run than forcing the issue.

Helpful telephone numbers

• Sex Addicts Anonymous: 1-800-477-8191
• Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous: contact online
• Sexual Recovery Anonymous: (646) 450-9690
• Sexual Compulsives Anonymous: contact online
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 (24 hours a day, 365 days a year)

Books worth reading

All books listed are available on amazon.com –

• Anti-Masturbation Manual: Overcome addiction to masturbation and pornography  – Edwin Rodriquez
• Masturbation Addiction: The ultimate guide for how to overcome this time-consuming addiction – Caesar Lincoln
• How To Stop Masturbation – Johnny Reeks
• Masturbation Addiction: The guide for overcoming masturbation – Oriadi
• How To Stop Masturbating: How to overcome men masturbation addiction in 90 days – James mason

Conclusion

Diagnosing yourself or someone else with masturbation addiction is tricky. There are no solid guidelines, and external factors can play a significant role. If there are no other mental health or addictions issues present, the problem can correct itself independently, without professional intervention.

On the other hand, any compulsive condition that isn’t treated can worsen and potentially morph into other addictions to cope with obsessive behavioral pressures.

The stigma attached to masturbation can also make people more inclined to hide the problem, leading to it getting out of control. Conversely, it can lead to people thinking they have a problem or being accused of being an addict when what they’re doing is healthy and normal.

Fortunately, with help and guidance and sufficient understanding, masturbation doesn’t have to be long-term and can be replaced with healthier thought patterns and activities.