Once you hit a certain age and your libido spikes, masturbating becomes a common pastime. A recent survey found that 91% of men masturbate, and women follow behind at 78%. Out of all age groups, millennials masturbate the most – 88% of them.
Pleasuring yourself now and then does no harm. It’s much safer than risky sexual activity. Well, when masturbation becomes habitual, it is a problem for many. There are many reasons why masturbation can turn into an addiction, and it’s essential to understand the physiological process behind masturbation.
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The Science Behind Masturbation
For many, especially those not in a relationship, masturbation is a way to sexual arousal. It’s also a natural stress reliever and feels great once you climax. But why is masturbation so pleasurable, and why do people do it so often?
When you masturbate, your brain releases dopamine – a neurotransmitter and hormone. Many people call dopamine the “feel-good” or “happiness” hormone. Dopamine is the same hormone that your brain releases when you exercise. Dopamine puts you in a good mood and motivates you.
Your brain also releases oxytocin when you masturbate. Often referred to as the “love drug,” oxytocin is a hormone that the hypothalamus produces. A significant benefit of oxytocin is that it helps lower cortisol – a hormone that causes stress. Oxytocin triggers warm and positive feelings similar to dopamine.
What Triggers the Urge to Masturbate?
When it comes to why people have the urge to masturbate, everyone is different. Some people masturbate out of boredom. Other people might have a sudden sexual thought or get aroused at the sight of a pornographic image.
Having a high libido is one reason why some people masturbate more than others. Libido is simply one’s sex drive, and various things can either lower it or raise it. For example, lower libido is a common side effect of many antidepressant medications. On the other hand, exercising and eating certain foods such as figs and avocados can increase your libido.
Is Masturbating Healthy?
There’s a common misconception that masturbating itself is not healthy. The act of masturbating has no harmful side effects. However, if you masturbate too frequently, you could injure your genitals. Masturbating is unhealthy when it becomes an addiction – when you habitually masturbate multiple times a day or a week. Masturbation addiction can hinder your personal life, professional life and take a lot of time away from your life.
Masturbation and Porn
Around 40 million Americans regularly visit porn sites. That’s almost 20% of the adult population in the United States. Men tend to watch porn more often while they masturbate. Around 75% of men watch porn while masturbating compared to 50% of women.
There’s often a link between masturbation addiction and porn addiction because both go hand-in-hand. Unfortunately, it’s hard to quantify how many people face a porn addiction. However, with 40 million Americans regularly watching porn, it’s safe to say that the number is relatively high.
How to Know if You Are Addicted to Masturbation
Many people compare orgasms to the “high” you get doing hard drugs. Thankfully, masturbating is nowhere as dangerous, but it certainly can be addictive. If you think you’re addicted to masturbating, you came to the right place. The first step of overcoming addiction is to admit that you’re addicted and seek treatment.
Since masturbating is an activity that so many partake in, it’s tricky to know if you’re addicted to it or not. It’s not as apparent as drug or alcohol addictions. To find out if you might be addicted to masturbation, take the below quiz and answer each question truthfully.
