Overcome Masturbation Addiction: Resources & Therapy

Recognizing Masturbation Addiction & How to Overcome it

With porn and other sexual content becoming increasingly easy to access, there is a rise in masturbation addiction and other compulsive sexual disorders. When masturbation becomes excessive to the point of disrupting your life, relationships, and mental health, it is advisable to talk to a professional to help you overcome it.

In order to overcome masturbation addiction, it is important to stop feeling ashamed and get the help you need to recover from it. This can be very challenging for individuals who are also suffering from low self-esteem as a result of their addiction. Having experts to guide you through the recovery process is essential to rebuild confidence and self-esteem as you heal from your addiction.

Download the Esternarh app now to learn more about the side effects of chronic masturbation and how to stop it. With the right mindset and resources, it is possible to move past this and live a full, healthy life.

Signs of Masturbation Addiction

If masturbation is causing you any sort of mental, physical or emotional distress, and you are still unable to control the urge to masturbate frequently, it is worth exploring whether you are addicted to masturbation. Here are some common signs to watch out for:

• Prioritizing masturbation over professional and social responsibilities - this looks like being late for work, skipping events or leaving social engagements early
• You masturbate even if you are not feeling aroused or experiencing sexual urges
• Your urge to masturbate is so overpowering that you cannot wait and often find yourself masturbating in places that are risky or inappropriate
• Masturbation has become your primary coping mechanism and you rely on it to regulate emotions like sadness, anger, or stress
• You cannot stop thinking about it, and no matter how hard you try, you can't stop yourself from masturbating
• It is hard to attain an orgasm or feel satisfied with your partner due to the loss of sensitivity in your genitals
• You notice irritation or injury on your genitals due to overstimulation
• You feel a strong sense of guilt or shame whenever you finish masturbating

If this describes you, do not worry. Our team of licensed professionals can help you. You can connect with them through the Estenarh app and consult with them from the privacy of your home.

Causes of Masturbation Addiction

There are several triggers that have been linked to compulsive masturbation, and identifying them helps determine the most effective treatment path for an individual. In some cases, habitual masturbation can alter brain chemistry and cause addiction by making it harder for those individuals to practice impulse control.

Triggers can be internal or external, with some even being beyond your control. However, with expert help, it is possible to deal with triggers and overcome addiction. Here are some of the things that can cause masturbation addiction:

Internal triggers

• Struggles with depression, anxiety, stress, or loneliness, can cause reliance on masturbation as a coping mechanism
• Pre-existing patterns of behavioral addiction in family history
• Brain chemistry that reinforces compulsive behaviors by rewarding them

External triggers

• Trauma of past physical or sexual abuse
• Easily accessible sexual or pornographic materials
• Diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, or disorders like OCD and bipolar, can lead to masturbation addiction which is a known symptom

Side Effects of Masturbation Addiction

Being addicted to masturbation impacts your daily life, your relationship with your partner, and the way you see yourself. This can cause ongoing emotional and psychological distress if not dealt with. Some common side effects include:

• Reduces the level of sexual satisfaction experienced with a partner
• Sexual dysfunction or performance issues during sex with a partner and resulting intimacy issues
• Diminishes the quality of interpersonal relationships and leads to feelings of loneliness
• Poor performance at work due to the inability to focus
• Hinders the development and practice of healthy coping mechanisms
• Lowers self-esteem

The Link Between Masturbation Addiction & Other Mental Health Issues

Excessive or compulsive masturbation can be indicative of a condition known as hypersexuality. While it is yet to be formally recognized as a clinical diagnosis, hypersexuality can impact mental and physical well-being owing to a lack of impulse control when it comes to pursuing sexual gratification.

Those suffering from hypersexuality are unable to stop themselves from indulging their impulses even if they know that the outcome can negatively impact them. Apart from being addicted to masturbation, a hypersexual may also wrestle with porn addiction, exhibitionism, and promiscuity.

Depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder are other mental health conditions commonly associated with hypersexuality.

How to Stop Masturbation Addiction

If you feel you are struggling with masturbation addiction, it is always best to consult a licensed mental health professional and confirm your suspicions first. Expert guidance combined with self-work is what will set you up for lasting success. Here are some of the things you can do:

Talk to a Therapist

Engaging the services of a therapist can help you deal with underlying mental and emotional issues that would otherwise be challenging to uncover. This includes:

• Determining if you have any other sexually compulsive behaviors
• Equipping you with tools to process and heal from past trauma that may be triggering your addiction
• Identifying issues in your personal and professional life caused by masturbation addiction
• Helping you build healthy habits to deal with stress, anxiety, and other emotional triggers
• Deconstructing feelings and behaviors related to your reliance on masturbation

Get Medication

While masturbation cannot be controlled by medication, the underlying trigger that's causing you to masturbate might be treatable. This is why it is important to schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist who can identify if you suffer from an underlying condition that's triggering chronic masturbation. You may be prescribed medication if you are diagnosed with the following conditions:

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Bipolar Disorder

Identify and Manage Your Triggers

As we have explained earlier, masturbation addiction is the result of several internal and external triggers. Identifying them and developing effective ways to manage them will help you make significant progress in overcoming the urge to masturbate compulsively. Here are some suggestions to help you get started:

• Start exercising as a way to help your body release stress, anger, or other triggering emotions
• Build your social circle, be present in conversations, and spend less time alone
• Avoid exposure and limit access to sexual content or pornography
• Set small attainable goals when it comes to resisting the urge to masturbate

Recovery from addiction is possible and you do not have to do it alone. Our mental health professionals at Estenarh have helped countless individuals overcome behavioral addictions like masturbation. All you need is the will to keep going and be patient with the process. We are here to guide you and support you each step of the way. We understand that it is not easy to talk about masturbation addiction. We assure you that our team is compassionate and will not judge you. We also take patient confidentiality very seriously and have adopted stringent measures to ensure your information is secure.

To start your recovery journey, download the Esternarh app and schedule an online consultation today.