Do I Need to Stop Masturbating and Pornography?
To masturbate or not? That’s a key decision that you will need to make if you decide to battle pornography. If you decide to stop both masturbating and pornography, you need to be prepared for a significantly greater challenge.
Are both masturbating and pornography problems?
Some men see masturbation as being part of the problem of using pornography. For them, they’re just as committed about stopping masturbation as they are about stopping pornography. For them, to continue masturbating, even if they stop using pornography, would not feel like much of victory.
Other men are entirely the opposite. Whilst they have strong views about using pornography, they fully intend to keep masturbating. For these men, whilst their masturbation is linked to pornography, they only see pornography use as being problematic.
Setting your own target
I’m certainly willing to help men work towards the outcome that they set for themselves. Whether this is stopping pornography use, reducing pornography use and perhaps stopping or reducing masturbation as well, there are some techniques that we can use to help them get closer to having the outcomes that they want.
Choosing your battles
However, giving up pornography and masturbation at the same time is significantly harder than just giving up pornography. Giving up the addictive behaviour regarding pornography use is hard enough in itself; trying to resist or divert your biological desires and develop new sexual outlets is a challenge of another order altogether.
Preparing for the challenge
Men who want to stop masturbating and pornography at the same time need to be prepared for a significantly greater challenge to achieve what they want to achieve. They are likely to need a lot more support and commitment to do this.
You can do it, but it’s significantly more difficult. Further, I haven’t seen any evidence that it helps giving up the use of pornography.
If you are struggling with porn, masturbation (or both), I offer individual counselling and couples counselling in Richmond in Sunbury.
Let me know what you think in the comments. Now, read about Pornography: It’s Much More Than Just Sex.
-Tim Hill
Tim Hill
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