Masturbation is the Ultimate Stress Relief

Masturbation is the Ultimate Stress Relief

What is masturbation?

Masturbation is an act of stimulating one’s genitals with the goal of becoming sexually aroused and having an orgasm. 

Benefits of masturbation

There’s more to masturbation than simply pleasuring yourself. Here are the key benefits that you can personally experience if you give it a try.

• Stress relief. There’s nothing quite as effective as masturbation when it comes to stress relief. The tension in your body is reduced, extra oxytocin is released, and you’re feeling better overall. 
• Orgasm on the go. Sometimes you just need a little sweet treat to keep going, and a chocolate bar is not cutting it. A quick sexy session for one can give you the energy boost you’re lacking and help you tackle whatever you have planned for the day. Technically, you can do that with a partner too, but orgasms are not guaranteed in sex with someone, plus it can take more time, be more messy, and require you to commute. Nobody has time for that in the middle of a busy day! 
• Zero chance of STDs or pregnancies. Sex in a relationship or a casual hookup is much more risky. Playing with yourself, especially if you follow all hygiene protocols, is all pleasure, no downsides.  
• Explore your own body. In many cultures, we are shamed for our bodies. They’re either too big, too small, too smelly, or simply not perfect enough. Masturbation helps you connect with your own body and be more confident, learn what turns you on, and understand your needs and preferences better. With that knowledge, you can lead your partner and make your sex better overall. 
• There’s nobody else to worry about. Your satisfaction is the one and only priority in masturbation. While yes, it’s hot and sexy to bring your perfect match to orgasm, but sometimes it’s nice to be a little selfish, right? 
• It gives you sexual autonomy. Sex is not always associated with great moments, sometimes it’s connected to abuse or shame. Whether a person struggles to meet someone in real life, feels rejected by the online dating world, or it’s a person with disabilities, or someone from a marginalized group, – masturbating is something they can all do from the safety of their own homes without depending on someone else.    
• You can do it and maintain celibacy. Going celibate is a personal choice, and depending on your reasons behind it, masturbating will or will not be included in the list of what’s allowed. For some, it’s a great opportunity to keep their sexual desires under control while staying true to their commitments. 

Downsides of masturbation

If done gently, masturbation has no downsides. Yet, there are a few that you may have to deal with:

• Shame. Masturbation, sadly, is a taboo for many. It’s scrutinized by religion, it’s considered shameful in our societies, so doing it can lead to a lot of self-deprecating emotions and stress. 
• Death grip syndrome. This is more of a male masturbation issue, as females have no penis to grip. Basically, men can hold their penises so tight during masturbation that they’ll struggle to feel the pleasure from sex with a partner. Aggressive and continuous pressure can also result in a penile injury. To combat this, be more gentle and also engage in mutual masturbation with your lover so you won’t have to focus on the penis as much and hurt it accidentally. 
• Hurt yourself. There’s more potential pain to masturbation than gripping your penis too strongly. If not carried out carefully, one can really hurt themselves and end up with itching, burning, and swollen genitals. So just like you’re following mindful dating principles, make sure you’re being mindful of your genitals too when you’re pleasing yourself. 

Myths about masturbation

For some odd reason, masturbation is prone to being scrutinized, and there are many odd and downright vicious myths surrounding this perfectly natural and healthy activity. 

Here are some of the most prominent myths about masturbation.

• Causes acne. There’s no correlation between the two. Acne happens for many reasons, and masturbation actually helps kickstart the processes that decrease inflammation and open up your blood vessels, which actually helps clear up your skin.  
• Decreases strength. That’s a weird take, and it’s false.  
• Decreases testosterone. That’s not how it works, testosterone levels have nothing to do with masturbation. With that logic, sex should reduce it too, right? Yet, it does not happen. 
• Causes prostatitis. Prostatitis is caused by bacteria, not masturbation. If you keep yourself clean and wash up regularly, you’ll be fine. Also, there is a correlation between not ejaculating regularly and higher risks of prostatitis that has to do with semen, sperm, and prostate secretions accumulation. So there you go – masturbation can help you reduce the chances of getting sick, and not the opposite. 
• Makes your palms hairy. There are absolutely no facts to back up this theory. This must be one of those things someone at church or in a reputable educational institution came up with that later spread like wildfire and became an urban myth. 

There are honestly so many masturbation myths out there, it’s ridiculous! Here are some more mythical side effects:

• Blindness
• Lowered libido
• Running out of sperm forever 
• Mental illness 
• Penis shrinkage 
• Lowered IQ

None of them make sense of course. Next time you struggle to break the ice in the dating chat, ask them what is the most insane myth about masturbation they’ve heard. You’re guaranteed to have a wild chat after that! 

How to masturbate better: proven tips

There are endless ways you can masturbate, and you can do it however you like. Here are some ideas for you.

1. Try new things: techniques, positions, erogenous zones.
2. Include toys to feel new or stronger sensations.
3. Set the mood. Dim the lights, turn on the music, erotic audio playlist, or another form of sustainable entertainment to get you started.
4. Listen to your body. Pay attention to how it reacts to you touching it. 
5. Prioritise health. Wash up, drink plenty of water, and be gentle with your touches. 

Can masturbation improve your life?

TLDR; yes, masturbation can and will improve your life. 

From stress relief and exploring your body, to avoiding STDs and hookups you feel lukewarm about, masturbation will give you a lot of pleasure and positive emotions. There is also research that confirms the correlation between regular masturbation and an immunity boost. Time and more research will tell whether those claims are true or not, but it sounds about right. 

If you’re less stressed or tense, if you’re in a better mood, and good hormones are released as a result of frequent orgasms, all those things do help you stay healthier and feel better. You’re not worried as much, you sleep better, and you’re more focused on your to-dos. All that helps increase your lifespan and make your life a better experience. 

How much masturbation is too much masturbation?

There’s no mathematical formula to calculate how much masturbation is good, and at what point you are crossing the line. Still, there are two big indicators that it is turning in the wrong direction.

#1 You’re becoming obsessed

Nothing but masturbation starts to matter, and you happily cancel plans or start acting on yourself in public because you can’t keep your hands to yourself. Usually, it doesn’t happen overnight, but rather you get more and more dependent on constant release through masturbating, and then one day you find yourself completely addicted. Truth be told, it’s not that common, or perhaps it’s not reported on enough, but it happens.  

Either way, if masturbating becomes more important than the majority of things in your life – you might have a problem. The best course of action here is to speak to a medical professional, ideally a sex therapist, who will guide you in the right direction. 

#2 Your genitals hurt from all the action

If you masturbate too much or do it too aggressively, it can lead to physical consequences for your body. Your intimates may feel sore, hurt, or swollen. It’s not always the frequency but the intensity, so begin by slowing things down and being more gentle. Treat your genitals as a romantic interest in your slow dating stage – touch less often, do it gently, and take breaks between the sessions.

Pro tip: If you’re worried about any of these side effects of masturbation, speak to a doctor. You might be overreacting and everything’s fine. But if it’s not, you’ll be able to deal with this issue early on and continue living a happy life where masturbation brings nothing but happiness.