Most
of the professionals in the field of sexuality medicine and counseling claim that masturbation
does not cause any harm to physical or mental health. Few even feel that
masturbation is healthy, because it helps people to relive their sexual urge
there by preventing unsafe sexual relationships. Quiet true, Masturbation may
not cause any physical harm, if the standards of hygiene are maintained. But
the same cannot be true when we look at it from a psychological perspective.
Masturbation
in one habit that can become a compulsive need in adolescents which is carried
into adulthood, if necessary control is not brought about, at an appropriate
time, by the person involved. The reasons being, it is one pleasurable activity
that can be done any time, the only requirement being some place with a little
privacy. It also does not involve any financial expenditure or social
commitments. So there is an urge to experience the pleasure whenever there is
privacy and opportunity. This habit in fact becomes a compulsive behavior even
at this stage because in every situation of privacy creates craving for masturbation.
In
the next stage they start looking for privacy whenever possible just for the
sake of involving in masturbation. Most
of the time “rest rooms” becomes the place that is used, whenever they don’t have any other place of
privacy. Once this practice come existence the urge can becomes so compulsive
that even when they have hectic schedules or important tasks to be completed,
they may just take short breaks to restrooms to finish off the urge. This stage indicates the obsessive psychological
preoccupation with sexual thoughts and need for compulsive masturbation, to
overcome the thought.
The
other danger is the development of the belief that masturbation is a stress
buster. Yes masturbation can act as a diversion from stressful thoughts or
events. It can very well act as a buffer. But this belief system can once again
increase the frequency and preoccupation that many just use this escape mechanism,
and avoid exploring effective stress management methods. This can create
limitations in their problem solving and decision making abilities
The
belief that masturbation can induce sleep also makes people involve in it every
day before they go to bed and may a psychological cause of sleep disturbance,
if they are in situations where they cannot involve in the habit before sleep
The
hazard of masturbation is not just associated with the habit itself but also
with the fantasies associated with the practice. Masturbation does not happen
without the associated fantasies. When there is frequent involvement in
masturbation, with in a short period, the normal fantasies lose its luster and become
less stimulating. When the regular fantasies do not provide adequate arousal,
it leads to suspicions and worries, in some people, that they are losing their
potency due to masturbatory habit. The bigger chunk of population shift to devising
fantasies, which are pervert and deviant in nature to maintain the stimulation
levels. The danger of these fantasies,
is that when these people go through a real sexual experience, they don’t find
is so exciting or pleasurable, as what they have experienced in their wild
fantasies. This can lead to
dissatisfaction and lack of interest in real time sexual relationship and some
times motivate the person to involve in deviant sexual acts. This can jeopardize
their marital relationship. In my experience I have come across many clients
who tend to avoid sexual relationships and gain sexual satisfaction by
involving in masturbatory practice even after marriage.
The
other threat to marital relationship from masturbatory habit is that, people
who tend to involve in compulsive masturbation, try to reach the climax with in
a very minimal time, which can lead to the development of premature
ejaculation. Failure to get fully aroused in a real time situation, because of
the fantasies, that have been more stimulating can also lead to the development
of performance anxiety. Also frequent masturbation, would create a status,
where the person gets pleasure only by the self touch, to which he is
habituated any may not be bale to feel the pleasure with the same intensity
when their partner touch them during a sexual encounter which can also result
in avoidance of real time sexual experience.
The
world of sexual fantasy is one place where the individual feel fully excited
and satisfied. So there is all possibilities that they don’t feel the necessity
to mingle with others or build relationships, because they are happy on their
own in their own private world. This factor along with the compulsive thoughts
to masturbate, which enforces the tendency to opt for isolation and places
where their privacy is not infringed, so that they can involve in the act when
ever they feel the need, becomes a barrier in developing social skills. Excessive masturbation can also lead to low
self confidence and self esteem, which may be associated with the feelings of
guilt associated with the habit or the pervert sexual fantasies, feelings of
lack of self control, fear about health and immorality induced by religion and cultures
and anxiety about their future marital life.
The
habit of masturbation cannot be treated as a totally harmless one. Preoccupation
with the habit and related fantasies does have an impact on the productivity
levels and the quality of life every person. So it is necessary that
appropriate awareness is created, specifically among adolescents, platforms are
provided to them for open minded
discussion about their masturbatory practices and adequate training is given to
them on exercising control on their
masturbatory habits.
