Squidgy's quotes in Scotty's topic raise some interesting points for me.

" "A high proportion of masturbatory experiences are motivated less by erotic needs than by general anxiety, tension, and boredom for which it becomes a sought-for tranquilizer." So when one is upset, depressed, lonely, or under much stress this habit becomes a convenient "tranquilizer" to blot out one's troubles. Therefore, to avoid masturbation, you must recognize this as an immature way to deal with problems."

This I agree with, and I think it was AA that created the acronym "HALT" to help people overcome the urge to drink - and masturbation when it's a problem can easily be considered addictive.
Hungry, Alone, Lonely, Tired.
And for me I only need two or three of those factors for something to go "click" and start me off.
As I said in the last post, even though I had distractions and contact with someone for a couple of hours the compulsion remained, and I gave in. And did I beat myself up ? of course I did. Looking at porn and masturbating is something I don't want to do. I want to have a normal sex life with my wife. And the maddening thing is so does she, she's a sensual and uninhibited woman. It's not as though I have any problem with not having access to normal sex.

The problem is that at times I still have the old fantasy of sex with other men, and I find it difficult to resolve that with having sex with my wife. I know where the fantasy originates - from my abuse. So I don't want that, but it's proving so difficult to erase from my mind. It's been there for nearly 35 years and I suppose trying to throw it out in 3 or 4 years might be asking a bit much ?
It's nowhere near as bad as it was, and I do accept to a degree that if this is as good as it gets FOR ME then maybe I will have to learn to accept it even more ?
But that's my view, and not everyone elses.

Another quote though I don't agree with -

"Suppose you accidentally see or hear something that is sexually stimulating? Exert your mind and reject the immoral thought. The arousal will soon die down."

For two reasons, firstly calling the fantasy "an immoral thought" just compounds the guilt - haven't we got enough guilt without piling more on top ? I know I'm contradicting myself here a bit because I don't want my particular type of fantasy, but I don't want any more guilt either, and I think that for me anyway the guilt is a greater burden than having a fantasy.
The second point is that I find the statement simplistic, "exert your mind and reject the immoral thought" - I've tried that - and it doesn't work ( for me )
Also, and more importantly, it's a perfectly natural thing to see, read or hear something erotic and be aroused.
It doesn't have to be porn, just an attractive person we see on the street, a scene in a movie or a passage in a book.
Of course it's better, or should I say more acceptable on a personal level, if the image that arouses us is something we agree with as regards being acceptable for us, the individual. But even people in good monogamous relationships look and admire other people or read erotic books.

Naomi Wolf the feminist writer wrote this in an excellent article about pornography and it's debilitating effects on men.
This passage shows, I believe, that it is perfectly possible to be sexual without resorting to vivid fantasy outside your frame of morality.
And this is where I want to go, to a position where I educate myself to what is acceptable to me.
I've tried abstinence, and I know that others here have as well with varied results, but for me it didn't work.

Quote -
Other cultures know this. I am not advocating a return to the days of hiding female sexuality but I now understand that the power and charge of sex is maintained when there is some sacredness to it.
The sense that sex is not every-­where on tap all the time benefits relationships. This is why many cultures condemn the wide dissemi­nation of sexual images. Many more traditional cultures seem to understand male sexuality better than we do. They understand what it takes to keep men and women turned on to one another over time - to help men, in particular, be, as the Old Testament puts it, “satis­fied with the breasts of the wife of thy youth”.
These cultures urge men not to look at porn because they place a high value on erotic married stabil­ity, and they know that a powerful erotic bond between parents is a key element of a strong family.

They see that the sexual drive is like the pressure in a pipe; if you expose a man or woman to a myr­iad of intense sexual images of other mates, it is like a thousand nicks in the pipe, a thousand leaks of sexual energy; so that in the end there is less energy to bring to the relationship. These cultures may not be nice to women - but they understand the power of Eros. We can teach them about equality; -they can teach us about sacredness.
And feminists have misunderstood many of these prohibitions. Orthodox Jews do not look at the eyes of women because they under­stand that a direct glance can be meltingly erotic. Muslim women cover their hair because hair is sexy.
Critics of such practices have not looked at the benefits that these cultures glean from setting apart sex­ual stimulation for the enjoyment only of married lovers: if you have ever seen Moroccan women danc­ing at a wedding you will know how steamy scenes between observant Muslim husbands and wives can be. Observant Jewish women, who abstain from sex two weeks a month, tell me they have more erotically charged encoun­ters with their husbands than their secular counterparts whose mates come home after a long day at work continually slightly aroused by co-workers, billboards and ads, only to have to work at it to get excited by a naked ordinary wife.
I will never forget a visit I made to Devorah, an old friend who had become an orthodox Jew in Jerusalem. I found she had abandoned her jeans and T-shirts for long skirts and a headscarf. I could not get over it. Devorah has waist-length wild curly golden-blonde hair. “Can’t I even see your hair?” I asked, trying to find my old friend in there. “No,” she demurred quietly. “Why not?” I wondered. After all, I am a woman. “Only my hus­band,” she said with a calm sexual confidence, “ever gets to see my hair.”
When she showed me her little house in a settlement on a hill and I saw the bedroom, draped in Mid­dle Eastern embroideries, that she shares only with her husband (the kids are not allowed in) and only when the time is right, the sexual -intensity in the air was archaic, overwhelming.
It was private. It was a feeling of erotic intensity deeper than any I have ever picked up between secular couples in the liberated West. And I thought: our husbands see naked women all day on Times Square, if not on the internet. Her husband never even sees another woman’s hair. She must feel, I thought, so hot.

Quote.

Personally I think that this kind of relationship with my sexuality would be perfect, although I'm not suggesting my wife wears a veil. But I'm trying hard to focus on our relationship in every aspect and I think that the husband of Devorah would also feel "hot" because they have moulded and developed their relationship to accomodate sex, and enjoy it with the mystery and delight of newly weds.
What Wolf advocates, and I agree with, is that porn and the non stop highly erotic images of advertising and MTV videos etc keep raising the level of what arouses us, way past the 'normal' arousal of seeing your partner dressed up and looking good, and them feeling the same about you. These highly sexually charged images desensitize us so we want more and stronger ones.
And for us survivors of course we have a headfull of memories and images already - the wrong ones !

So for us it's doubly difficult, we have our own images and when we turn the TV on there's Britney gyrating in front of us !
Where do we go to escape - is there an escape ? I don't know, it's hard to avoid all these influences and images and they trigger a normal physical response in us.
We can go and live in a cave in the desert, or somehow deal with what we've got. I'm trying hard to do the second one. I turn the TV off more than I used to, and try to regulate the influences I recieve. But it's hard.

I want to enjoy my sexuality, not feel guilty about part, or even all, of it.


Dave

Hey Dave,

I've got the cure for masturbation! Take 450 milligrams of Effexor SR plus 300 milligrams of Zoloft every day for 18 months and then you'll be like me----incapable of performing the act that is such a scourge to so many survivors.

Question is then what happens? What happens to people who manage, by dint of sheer will power or by force of circumstance such as medical problems, to stop the objectionable action temporarily?

My experience is that unless I am actively engaged in an ongoing, daily attempt to follow some sort of program of recovery aimed at getting at and resolving the underlying motivation for the compulsive behaviors, then I will go on to find some other outlet, perhaps less objectionable, perhaps more, for the neurotic energy feeding the original compulsion.

IMHO, the masturbation is no more than a symptom of what is bothering us. Sort of like the idea that drinking booze is just a symptom of the greater disease of alcoholism.

Does that mean that ceasing the offending actions is without merit? Certainly not. We must begin to experience life without the anesthetic cushion of masturbation or drinking or any compulsive behavior in order to begin to have the reality of our emotional, psychological drives hit us in the face without the drugging effect of the addictive act. Only by stopping can we begin to develop newer and better ways of expressing the hurt and confusion that underly so much acting out.

But to imagine that an individual truly addicted to anything can simply stop and stay stopped by will power is an invitation to disaster, in my opinion. Either some other behavior will have to take the place of the addiction in order to defuse the explosive force of pent up emotion which drives the addiction, or the person will try to find another way to escape the pressure and pain of the motivating stimuli: often ways that involve harming themselves or others.

Changing from one addiction to another is like switching seats on the Titanic---we all end up in the cold, cold water.

I agree wholeheartedly with you that feelings of shame and guilt are counterproductive to recovery from the sexual abuse that is the mainspring of addictive and other acting out behaviors.

My sponsors repeat to me the time tested mantra of the three a's: Awareness, Acceptance and Action.

Me, I always want to go from the awareness of a problem in the action of solving it. Which doesn't work. The acceptance of a thing is what leads me to freedom from it. Condemning and fighting with a behavior, such as in the "have more will power" approach only seems to enmesh me further. Acceptance doesn't mean that we approve or like what's happening. It simply means that I recognize the true situation, the real nature of my dilemna, and accept the fact that it exists, is real and is there for some purpose.

It means that I stop hating and condemning myself. That I accept and love myself. Only then can I take actions that are truly restorative and do not continue to perpetuate the harm already done to me by others.

Sorry to go on so long....I realize this is a bit of a soap box thing. But I feel strongly that we must resist the inclinations towards self hatred and self deprecation if we are to hope to have a sane and healthy sex life.

Sure, stop the behavior or moderate it's effects on your lives. But never forget that the behavior exists for a reason, serves us an important purpose and has probably saved our lives and our sanity over the years. What can we find to take it's place?

That I think is the real question to be answered as we trudge this road together.

I'm glad I'm at least on the road these days, and that I don't have to trudge alone.

Hope these ideas help someone somewhere to think more lovingly about themselves. That is the true victory for me.

Thanks for the topic, Dave. As always, you have stimulated and informed.

Your brother,

Danny
once again you make perfect sense, thank you for that.

I agree totally that just stopping masturbation - cold turkey - is a non starter.
The drive behind the compulsion is STILL there and will manifest itself in some other way.
We have to address the "three a's: Awareness, Acceptance and Action." before we go anywhere else.

I can spotaneously masturbate with no guilt or shame at all, even to my fantasy of other men.
I accept that as being part of being the man I am and perfectly normal.
I get the guilt and shame from the process of winding myself up to masturbating over a period of time, sometimes many hours. I used to be days when I acted out.
That's the bit I want to fix.


We have to become aware of our triggers, the situations that set us off and we find so hard to retreat from. The H.A.L.T. thing is one of my big issues for sure - especcially "L" Lonely. Then I feel unwanted and insecure and the downward spiral begins. I know that, and I 'phoned my wife about 30 mins ago because of that. It helps immensly.

Acceptance ? I have to accept that at this time I'm not as healed as I'd like to be, but I also accept that I'm trying bloody hard to get where I want to be !
Do I have to accept the fantasies I don't like ? that's a difficult one.
My therapist is also a very well respected Psychosexual therapist, and she say's fantasy is ok. It's a release of our darkest thoughts and all theat Freudian stuff. I can accept that. But I have a fear of the past catching me up once again.
It was fantasy getting out of control that eventually made me act out, or it was certainly a big factor. And I don't want to go there again.
I know how strong fantasy can be, and if dream up a new one of ......me and a giraffe for instance, will I be breraking into zoo's in a few years time ? I doubt it very much, but the knowledge of past is causing conflict there.

Action ? I've tried all kinds of things, and the best one for me is the 'phone.
So why didn't I use it the other day then ?
It beats me.

Thanks Danny
Dave

For me this is a key point.

Fantasy is just fantasy and not a bad thing but as noted above is a sort of release. It can enhance sexual experiences with a partner.

I know that it is important to be able to listen to my mind and body, really listen and know then when something is uncomfortable that there is something about it that is not good for me.

I have discovered that the abuse taught me to not listen but to suppress these keys to understanding myself, my natural intuition about what is good and what is not good for me sexually.

I am taking 5 medications now, an antidepressant, 2 to moderate moods swings, one to manage anxiety and another to help me sleep.

One of the side effects is a lessened ability to get and maintain an erection. My psychiatrist even prescribed Viagra at one point to help overcome this but since it is my libido that is suppressed, that didn't accomplish the desired effect.

My interest is sex is practically nil and masturbation is clearly compulsive and the fantasies I use clearly connected to the abuse I experienced.

It takes anywhere from 90 minutes to 2 hours to ejaculate but, as ridiculous as that is, I still feel compelled to do it. And still do it even though more than ever I feel shame and self-loathing afterward.

Loneliness and being bored have a lot to do with it but also the desire to escape.

Back when it took only a few minutes, I wasn't really aware of the content of my fantasies and what they might mean. I didn't experience the shame and self-loathing as I do now but rather just the relaxed good feeling.

My compulsion and my growing awareness of the abuse I experienced are linked but I do not yet see it clearly. I feel a resistance "inside" to understanding this more clearly.

Brett

Ah Masturbation;

Engage in it and you will go blind or grow hair on lyour palms. My god if that were true we would be a species of blind hairy men. Sure it stimulates fantasy without actually performing the fantasy. Masturbation is a release from tension and goddammit it feels good too. And there should be no shame in it.And it is harmless unless you wear out from over use. But isnt that true with anything taken to excess.

Some fantasize while doing it. So what!!! Better to fantasize than act out the fantasy to your detriment or harm.

I think the buggaboo about it with us is that any sexual act is dirty and unclean and we feel shame from the pleasure. I mean thats what the abuse was all about guilt and shame. Misplaced as it was. I was 16 and I was aroused by all that those three assholes did to me. My guilt my shame. Yeh right!!!

I learned it all by myself as a youngster and was terrified that I would go blind. Nearly went nuts the first time I had an orgasm. Thought I was gonna die. What a lot of crap!!!

PESONALLY I THINK IT IS SAFE AND HARMLESS UNLESS TAKEN TO THE EXTREME. BUT REMEMBER EXTREME CAN VARY FROM PERSON TO PERSON. :p

To post a simple, short reply:

Fantasy and masturbation, like anything, are great when you can choose to use them, but not when you begin to NEED them.

-Sean

Thank you Sean. I guess I am verbose

Uh, Dave, not to be a pedant , but I think the acronym is:

H - hungry
A - angry
L - lonely
T - tired.

I'm very aware of this acronym because it very well describes the triggers of my compulsive masturbation - at least I think of it as compulsive. What happens? For some reason or another, I become angry or lonely (my two biggies) and off we go to the races.

I agree w/ the quotation about masturbation often being less about erotic needs than etc. The contents of my fantasies make that clear. In my session w/ my therapist this morning, I told her about my downloading pornography and really doing some marathon masturbating since last Friday. This is certainly less about erotic needs than about anger at someone deceased whose birthday was last Friday. I've also noticed that I use masturbation as a weapon to make me relive the past w/ all its guilt and shame. Sheesh!

I don't have any grand conclusions or even any little ones to offer, not that any were requested anyway. I grew up in a religious tradition and later chose a different tradition, both of which view masturbation as sinful. Personally, I don't concern myself w/ that. I'm more concerned w/ the compulsivity of my masturbation. As long as any activity has control of me (and it does), I've quite a ways to go in recovery.

Tom

I would argue the possiblity that masturbation is a good and natural action and a very large percentage of the population does it.

Green

I like the HALT acronym. I've not heard that before.

My T suggested that I put a rubberband on my wrist and snap it when I find myself involved in fantasy as a way to help bring me back. At first, it worked like a champ, but I regret that after a day at Disneyland (and I already feel guilty about it being my partner's birthday), I'm stuck on two-three particular men who I just can't get out of my mind.

We're watching some movie tonight where the girl goes home to Alabama. There are attractive men in it as well as on Survivor (I'm smitten with Burton). I just can't seem to escape it now.

I am particularly susceptible when I'm bored or have low self-esteem--i.e., see other's who I think are better than me.

It's a miserable existence and I keep thinking that it wouldn't happen if I just had a normal sex life.

Fat lies.

--Scotty

For many years of my life I engaged in the activity daily (and often many times daily). Of course I grew up with the you will go blind, etc... And during these times, I was basically a slave to masturbation. I didn't think there was anyway out or that it would ever quit. In addition to that I sought out porn places and pretty much my life revolved around sex, work, some sleep, sex, work, etc... and occasionally I would remember to eat food.

I never thought that I would be able to leave this type of a world or go a day without masturbation. I just thought I was doomed to this life. Then zoloft found me and well that changed a lot of this because it was more effort than it was worth and I am not always a patient person.

But something else changed within me because as I learned more about myself and began to accept myself, my focus started shifting in life. This did happen slowly and took some time, but it did change.

Now I've been with my partner for over 4 years, and masturbation doesn't control me any longer. Oh yes, I still engage in the activity from time to time but not anywhere close to the degree I once did. I can see some of the "HALT" things and how they applied to me. Probably being lonely was one of those. However until I got to the point in my life that my life began to change, I was of course lonely.

I've since learned as I looked back that I didn't need to worry as much about masturbation as I did while I was at that stage of my life. Because it was part of the process that I had to go through. Maybe some in the world would disagree with that, but I know it to be true for myself.

And to be honest, masturbation is a fun activity... it is not harmful to others.... it does not get you diseases... don't think it makes you go blind.... and didn't ruin my sex life.. actually might of enhanced it. **grin**

It is intersting to read all of the observations and thoughts that everyone does have on this subject. All I ever heard was from the teachings of churches and that was pretty biased.

Don

Thomas
yes, that makes more sense. But it still only needs any two from four to set me off.

We can learn so much from other groups such as AA, in the end we're all at a place we don't want to be.

Dave

Dave,
I am SO glad you brought this up and SO glad I picked today to come back to this forum.

I struggle with this all the time and have posted about it here before. A few weeks ago, I chucked a big pile of porn, but still kept a few mags. I'm fascinated with the stuff in the quote above. I would just LOVE to have such a sexual relationship with a woman. And I have observed that over the years, it has taken more and more to arouse me with porn.

I have been asking "god" to remove my desire to look at the magazines. I see no problem, though, with masturbating with a fantasy in mind. I could see where I might want to stop that, though, if I had the chance to be with a woman of mystery as described above. I did stop smoking cigarettes by asking to have the desire to smoke removed, just like with the booze and drugs.

I know I'm rambling.

For me, shame has been about not believing that I am "enough." In a sense, I have never believed that I deserve a healthy relationship with an attractive woman. So I look at the magazines, where the women are "perfect." Like the SA'er and my mother are both telling me that I shouldn't want a woman, that I don't deserve it, that Mommy is the only woman for me. When an attractive woman shows an interest, I can easily get into obsessing on her. When it doesn't work, I can easily transfer the obsession back to the magazines. Last two women I have seen warning signs early and did not get into obsessing.

In the last year, I have learned that my mother sexualizes everything. It was always there, but I had always become unconscious and panicked and tried to justify her behavior. I began setting boundaries with her several years ago, never discussing my love life. I have had to set firmer boundaries about her physical health when it involves anatomy below her waist. The sexualizing behavior was there all along, but I had not recognized it before a year ago. If she treated me that way as a child, it's no wonder I needed to masturbate and to keep it up all my life and to have all of womankind spread out on the bed in front of me.

Last year, I actually had a sexaul fantasy about my mother. A friend advised me to go into and under the fantasy to see what was there. It turned into a spiritual experience.

I, too, turn off the TV. I cannot watch commercial TV, but only watch movies or HBO and such. Other than the porn in my closet, I try to ignore American sex culture. I watched a movie called Roger Dodger. Roger was in advertising and said that his job was to make people feel miserable. Isn't that the sexualized images - that we will never have anyone like Brittney, so we are miserable.

As for desiring or fantasizing about sex with men - that doesn't really have to do with childhood SA, does it? I occasionally have fantasies about men, too, but don't think much about it. I do believe I am bi-sexual, but do not choose to act on it. I thought bi-sexuality was a biological fact. I refuse to fear it. And I do not believe for one minute what that man did to me made me gay.

I'm not sure what purpose the porn serves - maybe to contain my sex urge until I feel good enough about myself to contain it myself. Gonna get mystical here, so I'll shut up.

Any comments, anyone? Am I making sense or am I crazy?

RickB

Rick
you agree with the article where Naomi Wolf states that constant exposure to porn desensetizes us guys- so do I.

It's certainly a problem with internet porn.
My experience is that I get triggered to go looking for a certain type of image, male-male bj's, and I start the search.
I find those type of images very easily, they're everywhere for free.
But the first one doesn't seem quite right somehow, so I keep looking. It's still not exactly right, so I look some more.
An hour or two later I'm still looking. But by this time I'm mad and frustrated, the connection has probably been lost so I've had to log on again and try to get back to where I was, I've lost my erection, I'm mad at myself for being in this state, I'm just f*****g furious !
But I have to carry on until the conclusion.

When I do find the 'ultimate' picture I often save it to a floppy disc ( aptly named ) because I think that this is the only picture I will ever need.
And it never is, I wipe it clean every time.

A true sexy, erotic, picture doesn't seem to be the same though. We've had February of the Kylie Minogue calendar taped to the workshop wall all year, and all the guys agree it's a very sexy picture.
But a hardcore porn picture wouldn't have the same effect I'm sure. Because we know that there's more and harder available. Kylie always has some clothes on, and the fantasy stays alive.

The other guys might start asking questions as well if a male-male bj porn pic suddenly appeared

Dave

I've been following this thread for the last week. This is something that applies to me, but I don't know exactly what I want to say about it. Or if I even wanted to admit it.

Yes, masturbation is a natural act and everybody does it. That is not the problem, it's when it becomes and obsession that it is. Fantasy is good, provides a good release, but that to is harmful when it passes the fantasy stage and enters obsession. I also have an addiction to porn, this played a part in my divorce. That addiction I understand its basis.

As Dave, it only takes some of the H.A.L.T. to begin masturbating, in my case it may only one to do it for me. This isn't a complete list. There has to be more, it's like I expect myself to masturbate. A compulsion.

This morning I woke up, turned of the alarm and began masturbating. This morning's fantasy involved men, something that is not that normal for me, but has been recently. Somewhere in my fantasy it triggered a little flashback. I lost my erection only to continue on. Only stopping to get to work before I was too late for work.

The fantasies I use during the act mostly revolve around some sort of abuse, acts to lessen the abuse, and the betrayal of trust. My masturbatory fantasies are based upon my abuse and my cheating wives.

Porn and masturbation were my only sexual outlet for many years. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I first had consentual sex at age 15. This triggered me something fierce, left me feeling like I did to her what they had done to me. I had always felt that sex was dirty and abusive, it was the only experience I had ever had with it. So I was left with only porn and masturbation for the next 12+ years. Then at 27, I had sex consentual sex again, instead of being triggered, I could see how much she enjoyed it. So I was able to have sex again. But never lost the obsession, habit, or whatever you want to call it. This was my way of life.

I could always masturbate. Having sex was a different thing. Many flashbacks have happened. Many me trying to live out a fantasy with my then-wife, only to be triggered by it, killing the ability to continue. Whereas in masturbation I can control the fantasy, and flashbacks are rarer, and the expected results come. But even with flashbacks within a masturbation session, I can and do continue.

Bill

This is not at all a problem with me...but IS a problem to a friend that I recently posted about. would it be all right to copy the posts of this thread and send them to him? There are some good thoughts and ideas here...and since it is public forum, I did not think people would mind so much. It is just that he is at home with his family right now, and I am not sure if he would want to actually come to this site while around his parents.

Leosha

this is hard for me i have never admitted to a group that masturbation has been pretty much my sex life
- and was getting uncontrollable as a teen until I somehow cut off (pscyhologically) everything -
romantic involvement (the kind I wanted)
and sexual feeling - the kind I wanted -
when i did later become involved
i was blown away - unprepared and devastated-
time and again -

i have trust issues -

and while masturbation can be fun like the previous posts said

it is now:

" a miserable existence and I keep thinking that it wouldn't happen if I just had a normal sex life."

"I am particularly susceptible when .."

- stressed and lonely

It's become a crutch --

I am learning with a t how to relate to
myself and what I would like in a
healthy way -

markgreyblue

It's pretty plain with this thread that we have all associated sex with some kind of abuse. In some cultures, masturbation is considered abuse of self, particularly for men.

I think that being sexual involves aggression for men and we get mixed up between the SA and what we do with a partner. If the penis is not erect, there can be no penetration. Is that a form of aggression? Is sex impossible without aggression?

Masturbation, on the other hand, gives me the idea that I am not being aggressive. That sounds like a justification when I write it out. My mother was/is so g** d*** passive aggressive! And my SA'er was a church leader, so neither god nor mother were safe for me. Masturbation, as has already been said, provides a feeling of safety.

I have been very sad the past couple of days and tried to stay with the feeling. This morning, though, I felt I had to masturbate and did so. Before I climaxed, I realized that I could stop and go on, or finish tonight, or whatever. But I went on anyway and felt that I had cheated a potential lover. That's the guilt/shame I live with over masturbation. Withholding.

I am very tired today. The last two days have been very emotional, sad. Like something has muddied my water.

RickB

Rick B wrote"
In the context of this post, Rick is accurate. However, think about all the euphemisms we have for male masturbation: Whacking off, beating off, choking the chicken, pounding the pud, yanking it, spanking the monkey, flogging the dolphin, squeezing the rat, jerking off, skinning the lizard, etc.

And on the other hand (no pun intended), what are the euphemisms for female masturbation?

Few and far between. I've heard "pleasuring myself". Guys don't seem to have any soft/peaceful terms. I wonder why?

Ken

Female Masturbation Euphemisms

A night in with the girls
Airing the orchid
Auditioning the finger puppets
Banana in your box
Bangin' the hood
Beat the beaver
Beat the clit
Beating around the bush
Beaver bop
Bisecting the triangle
Bo-diddle
Brushing the beaver
Buff the weasel
Buffin' the muffin
Burro ride through Grand Canyon
Bushwhacking
Buttering up the whisker biscuit
Candlesticking
Carpet bumping
Cat got your tongue
Cuddle your clit
Checking for squirrels
Choking the oyster
Churning butter
Clam bake for one
Cleaning the fish
Cleaning your fingers
Cleaving it to Beaver
Clit clamp
Clitters
Clubbin' the nubbin'
Coming into your own
Composing on the single key piano
Cook the clam
Cook your nookie
Cradle the cooch
Creamin'
Cucumber in your cooze
Cuddling the kitty
Cup your cunt
Dialing the rotary phone
Dickless dildo dance
Diddling
Diddling the bean
Digging a trench
Digging for clam
Dip your digits
Do the nasty
Doing your nails
Double clicking your mouse
Dousing the digits
Drawing inside the lines
Drilling for maiden water
Drowning the crabs
Engaging in safe sex
Engaging in a hot button issue
Erasing the problem
Fanning the fur
Feed the beaver
Feed the cat
Feeding the bearded clam
Feeding your slot
Feel the fur
Fiddle with your middle
Fiddling the bean
Finger blasting
Fingerbating
Fingerpainting
Five knuckle gusset shuffle
Flickin' the bean
Flickin' your clit
Flipping the switch
Flit the clit
Flounder feeling
Fluff your muff
Fondling the flaps
Frigging
Fucking without complications
Furry finger fuck
Gagging the cat
Gagging the clam
Gagging the lips of love
Genital stimulation via phalangetic motion
Get a date with slick mittens
Get a lube job
Get nasty
Get to know yourself
Get a stinky pinky
Giving lip service
Giving the fuzzy bunny a carrot
Giving yourself the finger
Going mining
Groping the grotto
Greasing the slit
Greasing your hips
Grissle rub
Grooving the groove
Gusset typing
Harmonious hand hump
Having some clam dip
Having sex with someone you love
Hee-haw with wrinkled mee-maw
Hello Kitty
Hiking the canyon
Hitchhiking south
Hitchhiking to Heaven
Hitchhiking under the big top
Hump the bump
Ironing some wrinkles
Itch the ditch
Itching the scratch
Jerkin' your merkin
Jillin' off
Jocelyn Eldering
Kit Kat shuffle
Knifing
Knuckle fucking
Knuckle shuffle
Ladle out the gravy boat
Leave it to beaver
Let the fingers do the walkin'
Levy break limbo
Lick your lips
Lovin' your oven
Lucy
Make the tide come in
Making soup
Manual override
Massaging the mistress
Mauling the Maid
Melting snow
Merry widow waltz
Mistressbation
Muffin buffin'
Non-penile pleasure pursuit
Nulling the void
Nuzzle your fuzz
Oiling the puss
Orchid grinding
Ordaining the valley
Paddling the pink canoe
Palmolive finger dip
Pampering the pussy
Panning for gold
Parting the Red Sea
Parting the waters
Pearl fishing
Pet the petunia
Pet the pussy
Petting the poodle
Piddle the pooter
Pipe cleaning
Polishing the nugget
Polishing the peanut
Polishing the pearl
Polishing your nails
Pound the mound
Plan B
Play the clitar
Playing couch hockey for one
Playing poke-her
Playing the old one-key piano
Playing the silent trombone
Playing with her pineapple
Playing with Mrs. Palmer's five daughters
Playing with the ferret
Playing with the man in the boat
Plumbing the bottomless pit of passion
Pull your clit 'til you spit
Punishing the pink
Punt your cunt
Pushing the button
Pussy soccer
Quackle the queen
Quim slippin'
Renting a boat for one in central park
Riding the unicycle
Ringing for service
Rolling the dough
Rolling the pebble
Rounding the mound
Rowing your one man canoe
Rub your cooze 'til you ooze
Rubbin' the nubbin
Rubbing the donut
Rubbing the red pussycat
Scoring the hoop
Scratch your snatch
Scrubbing the dishpan
See if the baby's home
Shadow boxing
Shaking hands with Mr. Lincoln
She-bop
Shelling the oyster
Slapping the south mouth
Soak your seat
Soaking the whisker biscuit
Spank the fish
Spelunking
Spearing the bearded clam
Spinning the record
Split your slit
Splittin' the kitten
Squeeze the peach
Stirring the clam chowder
Stirring the trough
Stroke the peekaboo Nellie
Stroke your slit
Strokin' and pokin'
Strumming
Strumming the banjo
Stuffing the turkey
Surfing the channel
Swat your twat
Sweeping the streets of Tuna Town
Teasing the kitty
Teasing the tuna taco
Testing the batteries
Testing the plumbing
Tibetan self-inflicted crotch nuzzle
Tickling the bean
Tickling the Elmo
Tickling the (tuna) taco
Tiptoe through the twolips
Toggling the bit
Tossing pink salad
Three point shot
Trolling the Bermuda Triangle
Tugging the vertical smile
Tuning the taco
Twaddling the twat
Two finger taco tango
Undergarment typing
Unwrapping the gift box
Vacuuming the carpet
Virgin's release
Walk through the valley of love
Washing your fingers
Watering the grass
Wet your whistle
Womanipulation
X-boxing
Yanking the ya-ya

Masturbation is not just a guy thing, it's a human thing. It's something you are going to do at some point. I am willing to say that a compulsive need for porn is not healthy, but I think the occasional extended weneewash in the shower is not unhealthy.

Yes, porn desensitizes us, we need more and more to become stimulated. But at some point you need to draw the line between drowning in porn and normal masturbation. 100 years ago women did not even exspose there ankles. Men still 'loped the mule.' We can hind many was to feel bad about it, but not a real alternative to it. We make up silly euphemisms for it, as even if the word it's self was to shameful to mention. Do we really need 500+ ways to not say masturbation?

Accosting the Oscar Meyer
Addressing MrPalmer
Appropriate the means
Arm aerobics
Backstroke Roulette
Battling the purple-helmet warrior
Bash the bishop
Bash the Candle
Beat Off
Beat Pete
Beat the Bologna
Beat the Bishop
Beat the Butter
Beat the Dummy
Beat the Meat
Beat the Stick
Bleed the Weed
Blow Your Load
Beat your meat like it owes you money
Bequeath your genes
Beta testing your hardware
Bleed the lizard
Bleed the weed
Bloating the vein
Blow your load
Bludgeon the Beefsteak
Bob the hog
Bombing the German helmut
Bop the Baloney
Box the Jesuit
Boxin' the Bozak
Boxin the Ballsack
Break one off
Break you off at the wrist
Bringing MrWeasel back from the dead
Buck the bone
Buff the banana
Buff the mushroom
Buff the wood
Burp the baldman
Burp the worm
Bust a nut
Butter the corn
Charge the rod
Charm the serpent/snake
Check the oil
Chipping wood
Choke the Chicken
Choke the Sheriff and Wait for the Posse to Come
Choke Charlie 'till he chunders
Chong your schlong
Churning butter
Clean your pipes
Clean Your Rifle
Closing the deal
Clubbing the baby seal
Cocking some soup
Come into your own
Communicating with Red Leader One
Conking the Cardinal
Converse with Harry Palm
Corralling the tadpoles
Crab tease
Crack off a batch
Cracking off
Cracking the bat
Crank the Shank
Crown the King
Cuff the Carrot
Culture the American Blood Sausage
Date Palmala Handerson
Date Rosy palm and her 5 sisters
Diddle
Diddling the dinky
Dilly with the willy
Dinging the dong
Discipline your soldier
Discussing Uganda
Disobey the Pope
Doin' extra credit
Doin' the Hand Jive
Donkey Spank
Downloading from your own website
Dra en handtralla
Drain Charle's Dickens
Drain the monster
Driving the skin bus
Drizzle the squid
Dry-firing your musket
Dunking the dolphin
Dusting the old trophy
Educating Peter
Empty the cannon
Encapsulate your probe
Erupting Vesuvius
Evacuating Tatooine
Evicting the testicular squatters
Excercise your rights
Express yourself
Extracting some crack spackle
Facha la manuela
Feed the ducks
Feed the fist
Fencing with the pork sword
Fidget with your digit
Fight the Champ
Firing off a round
Firing the flesh musket
Fire the hand cannon
Fire the Surgeon General
Fire the wobbly warhead
Fist Fuck
Fist kebabing
Fist of fury
Fist your mister
Fist Your Monster
Five Against One
Five knuckle shuffle
Fixing the Hubble
Flail the whale
Flog the Dog
Flog the Hog
Flog Your Dong
Flute Solo
Fondle the Fig
Gallop the Antelope
Give It a Tug
Grease the Pipe
Hacerse la manuela
Hacerse la paja
Hack the Hog
Hack off
Hand crank
Hand Job
Hand to gland combat
Hand Work
Have It Off
Having a whack attack
Having a staff meeting
Helping the python shed its skin
Herkin the Gherkin
Hit on Rosy Palm
Hitchhike under the big top
Hittin' the wood
Hump the horn
Hump your hose
Huskin' corn
Hold the bold
Hold the mayo
Hotdog-a-rama
Ignite the Lightsaber
Infiltrate your crabs
Innoculate the newborn
Introducing the Master of Ceremonies
Jackhammer
Jack Off
Jack the corn
Jack the sack
Jack the joystick
Jack your Jizz
Jack your monkey
Jack yourself
Jack'n the beanstalk
Jam the joystick
Jalarle el pescuezo al ganso
Jazz Yourself
Jerk Off
Jerk the Gherkin
Jerk the Turk
Jerk your rope
Jerkin' the jerky
Jerkin' the noodle
Jerkin' the wheel
Jiggling the dice
Jostling your Elder
Juice your fruit
Jumping to Delight Speed
Kill the Pope
Knock on wood
Knuckle shuffle on the old piss pump
Lap-based web browsingrowsing
Lash the length
Launching the Tadpoles
Lehavi Bayad
Lightening the load
Lighting the candle
Lightsaber practice with Captain Solo
Little pinky hit the slinky
Loading the cannon
Locking your roommate out so you can call your parents
Lope the mule
Lope the pork sword
Lube the cord
Make one-eye cry
Make the bald man puke
Make silly with the willy
Making a six-fist
Making duck butter
Making the Kessel Run
Making oyster soup
Making pancakes on your stomach
Making wall-paper paste
Manipulate the mango
Manistrupation
Mannin' the Cannon
Manual override
Manually assisted wet dream
Manually increasing the surface temperature of the ship's primary cannon by repeated linear manipulation
Manually targeting the Rebel Base
Massage the fireman's neck
Massage the one-eyed monk
Maximize your potency
Meet MrsPalmer and her five daughters
Meet your right-hand man
Messin' with Moby
Milk the lizard
Milk the maggot
Milk the member
Mix up a batch
Mount a corporal and a four
Murder the Bishop
Mustard on the burger
Nerk Your Throbber
Oil the glove
Onan's olympics
Onanera
One-eye target practice
One-hand jam
One-man show
One off the wrist
Oscillating the Oscar Meyer
Pack Your Palm
Packaging the ol' sausage
Paddle the Pickle
Paint the Pickle
Paint the CeilingPassing math
Pat the Robertson
Peeling the chile
Performing the Jedi Hand Trick
Perm your poodle
Petting the silk worm
Petting the snake
Petting the Wookie
Phone the czar
Pitch a knuckle ball
Play with your Willy Wanker
Playing closet Frisbee
Playing Nintendo
Playing the fiddle
Playing the flesh trombone
Playing the hairy banjo
Playing the man-flute
Playing the pink oboe
Playing the skin flute
Playing a solo on your meat whistle
Playing soapy Peter
Playing with the pink Power Ranger
Playing with your 6th finger
Playing with your big Alien
Playing Yahtzee
Please your pisser
Pluckin' your chicken
Plunk your twanger
Pocket pinball
Pocket pool
Pocket the rocket
Polish the bayonet
Polish the bishop
Polish the knob
Polish the log
Polish the Oscar
Polish the pole
Polish the rocket
Polish the shooter
Polish the sword
Polish the Viper
Polish Vader's Helmet
Polish your antlers
Polish your helmet
Polish your horn
Polishing Charlie Brown
Polishing Percy
Popping the zit
Portuguese Pump
Pound off
Pound the bobo
Pound the pelican
Pound the pudding
Pound your flounder
Pound your pud
Pow-wow with the one-eyed Redskin
Practice the Heimlich Maneuver
Practice your Kung-Fu Grip
Prime the womb cannon
Puff the one-eyed dragon
Pull off
Pull one out
Pull the ducks neck
Pull the root
Pull the pole
Pull the pope
Pull your pud
Pull the pudding
Pull your prick
Pull Your Taffy
Pulling a solo session
Pulling on Peter
Pulling the goalie
Pummel the love truncheon
Pump the monkey
Pump the python
Pumping gas at the self-service island
Punching the clown
Punchin' the Munchkin'
Punching your puppet
Punish the Harlequin
Punish the penguin
Putting the seminal luge team through their paces
Raise the flag
Rake your meat
Ram the ham
Ravage the innocent
Read 'em his rights
Reenact Old Faithful
Releasing the hostages
Releasing the Special Edition
Rewinding your tape
Ride the great white knuckler
Ringing for the elevator
Rolfing the piglet
Rob the knob
Rockin' the rhubarb
Rollig the dice
Rolling your quarters
Rope the goat
Rope the pony
Rough up the suspect
Rub off
Rub one out
Rub the tub
Rub your head
Ruminating and pondering
Run a batch
Runka
Running Peter through two-a-days
Running the whack-a-thon
Sailors' joy
Salute the sailor
Sanding the banister
Schplitzing your schmeckel
Scratching Yoda behind the ears
Sewing the seed
Shag
Shake the snake
Shake the weasel
Shakin' hands with little Elvis
Shakin' hands with MrHappy
Shakin' hands with MrWinkie
Shakin' hands with the unemployed
Shakin' hands with Yule Brenner
Shakin' your fist at the ex-girlfriend
Shakin' your hands at the sky
Shakin' your own maracas
Shifting gears
Shine the barrel
Shine your dolphin
Shine the hose
Shine your pole
Shoe shine
Shoot your squirt
Shoot your wak
Shooting craps
Shooting the bedroom gun
Shooting the shark
Shooting Womprats in Beggar's Canyon
Shooting putty at the moon
Shuffle the deck
Sifting through the nest to find mama bird
Single dingles
Siphoning off the tank
Slakin' the bacon
Slammin' the salmon
Slam the ham
Slam the hammer
Slam the salomi
Slam the spam
Slap your head
Slappin' Pappy
Slappin' the Cap'n
Slapping the clown
Slapping the salomi
Slaying the one-eyed monster
Slimmer
Sling some spooge
Sling the jelly
Slog the log
Smacking the sausage
Snap the carrot
Snap the Monkey
Snap the radish
Snap the Rubber
Snap the Whip
Snuggle the nozzle
Soldier's Joy
Soldier's toy
Solo spit
Soviet U-boat Commander Jackoff Ruboneoff
Spackling the ceiling
Spam Wham
Spank the carrot
Spank the frank
Spank the hangdown
Spank the monkey
Spank the Salami
Spank the tank
Spank the wank
Spank your little boy
Spela fickpingis
Spela skinntrombon
Spinning the record
Spit one off
Spit the seeds
Spit-shining the boots
Splat the cat
Sprayin' the spectators
Spreading some super life
Sprinklin' the lawn
Squeeze the cheese
Squeeze the lemon
Squeezing the cream filling from the twinkie
Squeezing the Creamy Filter
Squeezing the squid
Squirt one off
Squirtin' Burton
Straddle your paddle
Strangle MrJesus
Strangle the dangle
Stroking it
Stroking Steven
Stroking the Scooby
Stroking the schlong
Stroke off
Stroke the dog
Stroke the goat
Stroke your ego
Stroke your poker
Stroke the purple-nosed gusset ferret
Stroke the trumpet
Stroke your poker
Stroke your wookie
Strokem your scrotum
Stuck in left field
Suffocate the organ
Surfing on the Milky Highway
Taffy pulling contest
Taffy tugger
Tajja
Take a beating
Take a load off your mind
Take a ride on the mean spanking machine
Take little Johnny dancing down at Knuckle Junction
Take matters into your own hands
Take ol' stiff neck to the movies
Take yourself in hand
Taking a client up to the Yajima Factory
Taking hand
Tame the bald headed mouse
Tame the monster
Tame the shrew
Teach your dog to spit
Teach yourself a lesson
Teach Yule Brenner some respect
Tease the weenie
Tenderize the meat
Test-fire the Death Star
Test the flashlight
The Five-Knuckle Shuffle
The tube of cream
Thump the Pump
Thropping your marrow
Throw the ball around
Throw out
Thump the pump
Tickling your Elmo
Tickle your pickle
Tinkering with the R2 unit
Trim your antlers
Trim your horn
Tocar con mi pinga
Torment the Trouser Trout
Torquing the wrench
Toss off
Tossing the ham javelin
Train the Love Porpoise
Trying to pull something off
Tug o' war with ol' Cyclops
Tugging the tapioca tube
Tuning the fork
Turn the knob
Tweak your twiddle
Twirl the squirrel
Twist your turnip
Twistin' the Piston
Umroj
Unleash the fury
Unloading passengers from the five-car train
Unsheathing the meatsaber
Unsheathing the pork sword
Vaccinate the baby
Varnish the flagpole
Virtual sex
Visiting Rosy Palm and her five daughters
Vomit the viper
Wack the weasel
Walk the dog
Walking old one-eye
Wank
Wank the crank
Wanking one-eyed Willy
Wanking the one-eyed wonder worm
Wanking the scube
Warming up the altar boys' dinner
Washing the goose's neck
Washing the hog
Wasting babies
Wave the wand
Wax the bean
Wax the board
Wax the Buick
Wax the candle stick
Wax the carrot
Wax the dolphin
Wax the musket
Wax the womb broom
Wax your surfboard
Whack off
Whack on your back
Whack little Mac
Whack the pud
Whack the yak
Whack your Magic Johnson
Whack you willy
Whip off
Whip the dummy
Whip the wire
Whip your dripper
Whippin' the mule
Whippin' the pony
Whippin' the weasel
Whipping Dripping
Whipping your Skippy
Whipping your Willy
Whizzin' Jizzum
Whittling Dixie
Willy spitting
Willy wanking
Winding the Wurlitzer
Wonk your conker
Work off
Workin' the Jerkin
Wrestle the eel
Wrestle the bald-headed champion
Wrestle with Cyclops
Wring out your rope
Wringin' the towel
Wringin' out the tube steak
Yang your wang
Yank off
Yank the crank
Yank the plank
Yank the shank
Yank the yam
Yank the Yoda
Yank your strap
Yank your wank
Yankee your Wankee
Yerk off
Yoinkin' off
Yuckin' your choad
Zoot Flute Riot

I giggled as I wrote this, as if I was doing something naughty. But was I? I was just talking about it but this pointless hardwired shame kick in. After all I am an adult, and am free to do what I want in the privacy of my own home. But we give so much power to this very simple act that we have very little power to control. At some point I'm going to engage in that act, I'm not going to feel guilty over it. At some point I'm going to use a silly euphemisms and giggle like I was back in JR High School. The problem is not masturbation, the problem is thinking we have to be ashamed of something that is not our fault.

Brian.

Brian
reading all that made me laugh, great lists. You've got way too much time on your hands !

And it does show that we try very hard to disguise masturbation as something else - why ?

All the different names we use are just ways to "minimize" the guilt that has become associated with it.
And there's no reason at all to be guilty or ashamed of "cranking one off" ( not on the list I notice ) if it's being done for normal relief or even pleasure.
Pleasure is good for heavens sake !

I know that I get the urge when I'm a bit tense before I do something 'special' - even something like a good night night out where I fully expect to enjoy myself with friends.
I think it's a release of the tension I feel at not making a fool of myself in front of friends, getting there on time, remembering to take something I've been asked to take etc.

And I'd have to say that I feel that's a normal enough thing, quite possibly someone with biological knowledge would say the tension naturally raises certain chemicals in the body that trigger the urge, maybe not - but that's the way it feels to me.

It's the masturbation from past triggers, the 'acting out' masturbation that bothers me though.
I can feel the same triggers and unstoppable urges at work, the ones that made me act out with other guys. And I don't want those.

The hard part is seperating a good "Shakin' hands with MrHappy" from a bad "Knuckle shuffle on the old piss pump"

The difference is in the mind, and it's easy to get the two confused.

Dave

WOW! That's quite a list there Brian-Z.

Compulsive masturbation. Yes. I, too, used to struggle with this. Yes, that's right, used to. I read an excellent book a few years ago that helped me a great deal. I don't remember the authors name, but the title is "The Centerfold Syndrome." I came across it because I used to constantly check women out. I would go out of my way to watch them, particularly if they had a "nice ass". I was obsessed. I would hang out at shopping malls for hours and hours, looking for that "10-for-an-ass". When I finally realized that this behavior wasn't acceptable to me anymore, I found this book. It taught me a great deal. An excellent book for "us".

One thing that I would like to add. My 'pen' name, StrongHeart, has implications other than the obvious.

I am half native indian. The StrongHearts were a group of chiefs who stopped fighting each other to form a much feared band of warriors who fought the invasion of white men back in the 1800's. I tell people all the time that I'm a spiritual person, not a religious person. I believe very strongly that when my life gets a little out of control, that's it's time to exercise my spirituality. Natives have always believed in the power of "mother earth". We have a great deal of respect for nature and the planet. I make my connection with earth on a daily basis now. I go away from any man-made sounds. (cars, machinery, etc) I just go into nature and be silent. I listen to the wind, the sound of waves on a shore, birds, anything that is not a man-made sound is the sound of the great spirit known as earth. Connect with earth, and it will ground you. It has gotten me through some very difficult times. When I feel a great compulsion to use drugs or alcohol to get me through, I connect with nature, and it works everytime. I also used this for my constant mastubation. It is just practically impossible to sexualize nature. (unless you have a strong urge to screw a tree.)

well if the tree is up for it, I don't see the downside, well maybe the splinters.

Brian:
I am humbled by your list. I'm going to save it for the next time I do a sex ed program for adolescents.

One of my favorites that's not on this list is from a friend of mine who went to college in Lynchburg, VA. They used to call it "thumbing to Baltimore" (an old reference to hitchhiking when the walker would motion back and forth with thumb extended.) Maybe you had to be there.

Thanks for the chuckles.

But my point was that male masturbation has more violent/aggressive verbs to describe the act than female masturbation... even with the extensive list you provided.

Ken

Personally, I think maybe there is some truth to this... but for me, it's just low on my priority list in my recovery.

I think this issue can be different if you're in a serious relationship with issues around sex... as did happen in my previous relationship and did become a very serious, hurtful problem for my partner.

But I think as survivors, there are so many other things to get through before you get to the point of addressing masturbation... I don't think we need another thing on our huge list, you know? Not to say that you shouldn't if it is a problem, I personally just think that you shouldn't beat yourself up over it, pun intended

People are going to hate me for this (because it's true)

You can mix almost any combination of verb and noun and come up with a euphemism for masturbation. Try it!

Buttering the bread
Folding the laundry
Programming the VCR
Defragging the hard drive

And so on.

It's that ubiquitous.

Ok 2nd part.

As for the more... active names we give our little habit, look at the mechanics of the sex act in general. Un less you're in a pornographic movie one person is doing all the work, and we know who that is. So it stands to reason that we would use... more colorful euphemisms.

Now, if you will excuse me I'm going to go let the cat out (see what I mean.)

Brian.

Well, I just had to add my two cents...I masturbate almost daily. If I don't on a particular day, it's because I'm hoping my wife might be interested in a little activity that would make the 'end result', not to mention the beginning and middle, much more pleasurable. I enjoy the release. Sometimes I use the release to help me sleep, other times to releive sexual tension, sometimes to releive non-sexual tension. There are times when disturbing images come into play. When that happens I either lose my enthusiasm for the task at hand, or I conjur other, pleasant (sometimes kinky) images and work the job to completion. I also use porn, sometimes gay or bi, usually in the form of written word as pics just don't have as much impact. My wife is aware that I masturbate frequently (and that I use porn), it doesn't bother her. I think she views it as a substitute for the real thing as much as I do and welcomes the relief of any pressure on her to join me in the process, so to speak. I also believe, because I've read it numerous times, that ejaculating is the only way we can exercise our prostates. And regular exercise of the prostate can help to avoid cancer of the same (medial professionals, please advise if I am wrong). Not to mention it keeps my forearms and biceps well defined. I have many friends, mostly married, who have not experienced any type of SA who also admit to taking on this task on a near daily basis. So masturbation does not necessarily signal that there is something wrong, it may be that some of us are as hormonal as we were when we were 18 years old, I know I feel that way. But certainly, if you see that it creates issues for you, you should try to figure that out. Today's plan was to 'pick up the Christmas goose', but, since my wife is leaving work early today and we will have an hour or so of private time, maybe I'll shop by myself tomorrow and spend the afternoon with her. Peace.

Great thread! Brian-z, what a list. Let me try a couple:

Cleaning the pool
Lighting the candle

You're right, Brian.

I will continue to grapple with this issue, I imagine. I am going to look for "Centerfold Syndrome" and try some earth centering next time I feel the urge to worry the wizard. I too feel Earth-centered in my spirit.

Thanks, guys
RickB

Guys,

Unfortunately, whether by choice, design, abuse, or simply a screwed-up view of sex, masturbation has been a focal point of my sex life.

Yes, it's been a release, it's been a way to cope with the abuse, it's been a way to NOT act up. Most of the time, I've felt furtive and ashamed about it. Not the act, but the mind images that have come with it.

A couple of things has happened to turn that around.

One: Because I've been dealing with the abuse that I've denied for so long, the compulsion has become less (although, the inappropriate places I've gotten the urge, say at work or anyplace that doesn't afford privacy, has increased a little!). Perhaps because I'm working through my issues and the NEED to deal with disturbing fantasies in a harmless way has affected this.

Two: The fantasies have become more "wholesome." By that, involving people I actually care about and would LIKE to have caring sex with. No, I haven't acted on them either (performance anxiety, anyone?), but the fact that I'm associating sex with romance, with actual love, that's a shift. That's progress, I think!

Now, about that "performance anxiety" thing....

By the way, Brian, laughed my considerable @$$ off at your euphamisms concerning the singular act! Brought back some locker room memories, I've gotta tell ya. Including (which you may or may have had, I forget) "Bopping my baloney!"

And, I noticed you had several "Star Wars" related terms. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.............. :rolleyes:

Thanks for encouraging my behavior, brothers!

Scot

I know that the compulsion I experience is going to be dealt with one way or another in therapy at some point.

I am not pushing it at this time just because there is so much to deal with anyway.

I wish I had more of a sense of humor about it but my fantasies have so focused on "reliving" the abuse, that I can only take it seriously.

I have noticed a slight change as my feelings about the child I was shift from anger and hate to nurture and love.

Brett

[QUOTE] I wish I had more of a sense of humor about it but my fantasies have so focused on "reliving" the abuse, that I can only take it seriously.
[/QUOTE

My fantasies are slowly going away from my old ones where I re-lived the abuse or fantasised about sex with other men, they are losing their effect.
Which is good, and I'm replacing them with more 'acceptable' fantasies which actually work, which is even better.

I have no problem with using fantasy, if it keeps my sexual urges alive then that's ok by me.
But the old abuse related ones filled me with guilt and shame, that I can do without.

Dave

It's good that you care enough to try to do better.

That advice didn't work for me, at least not directly.

I was advised to pray about it when the urge was strongest. It makes sense, doesn't it? But, the harder I prayed and tried to stop, the worse it was getting. What was that about?

It took me a while to figure out a trend.

In my case compulsion was at the source of repetition. So 'EXERTING my mind' was the wrong thing to do. Praying (exerting my mind) and thus JUST CONSIDERING the subject put the issue too clearly into lingering focus, and thus made it more likely to occur for me.

I found some help in finding something else to think about immediately--go do something else RIGHT NOW, just switch channels.

I pray about it at times now--but very short mention, and NOT when the tempatation is there. It sounds all backwards, and I'm not discounting God's help. I just have to do what works for me. The new way doesn't always work, but the difference in frequency, before and after the change in methods, is definitely there.

The other saying that is good from AA is that "Relapse is part of recovery". I figure that in the case of sexual abuse, your relapse symptoms have got to be sexual.

Eventually it sneaks up on me again, but the new way has helped somewhat. Again, it's good that you care enough to try to do better.

Regards,

Ed

I meant it was 'obsessing' over the subject that kept it in focus and led to relapse, not 'compulsion'. The compulsion, the actions, soon followed.

Tb

Gosh, Tribear, talk about synchronicity!
I had a very strong relapse a few weeks ago, based on anger towards a certain person. My therapist said that maybe, given the fact of my sexual abuse and the consequently screwed-up view of sex, the only way I could express this anger was in masturbatory fantasies.

Tom

My God! This thread is still alive! This seems to be serious to some, less so to others. It has really helped me to get this out where I know other men will read it.

I finally threw out *ALL* the porn on Saturday. Just got up in the morning and stated the decision out loud. So I dropped 2 sacks in a dumpster behind a restaurant. Then last night, I stopped at an adult store and bot 3 new mags. AAAGGGHHHH! I think Ed has very good insight on this. I have to do this in this particular way. I will throw out the 3 new mags and then see what happens! I wonder if this is serving to release guilt and shame about sex? If I could go into an adult store and buy whatever, just as if I were buying a head of lettuce, would I have accomplished some new recovery? Or would I just be desensitized? I'm feeling crazy and tense now.

But I want to be healed NOW! Really, I have been corresponding with women through an Internet service. There are two very strong candidates. I DEARLY WANT to give a woman I can commit to all of me. Masturbation feels like withholding. And prayer works about 3/4 of the time. It's that 4th time!

RickB

Tom
I also find that a sudden burst of anger towards someone, or my job, has the same effect.
I get pissed off, so I retreat into my 'old' defences.

I guess we need to find some new ones eh ?

Dave

This is an intense thread. Thank you all for speaking so honestly. It really helps to see how others struggle with this.

This is a big issue for me right now. The fantasies I have involve my f*cking g*ddamn parents, and I do not want them in my head any more. The shame involved with this is still intense, even though I understand everything you all said. Then I guess the shame triggers me into causing myself some sort of pain while I'm jerking off, or even physicaly re-enacting parts of the abuse. I'm sorry, I feel like such an idiot, because I am doing this to myself now, no one else is making me do this. Some of the stuff isn't even arousing, I just need to do it.

I agrre that masturbationis fine, but I don't want all the other stuff. So right now I just jerk off as soon as I get home from work, without thinking about anything, and then I am keeping all the lights on, since I do the weird stuff in low light. I reallyl feel like I need to get control over this behavior. Last week I spent four of the evenings after work just thinking or doing this stuff.

Really, I do have other ambitions for my life.

I think it was right when people talked about there being other feelings underneath. A lot more feelings about the SA have been coming up, and that's when this issue intensified. You guys said a lot of important things that I'll be thinking about for a while.

Jim

Very, recently I have begun to see some of the "models" in the materials I use as probable victims of abuse themselves. A real turn off.