In all honesty, is masturbation healthy?

karaokeman

I am the kind of person who has a tendency to masturbate at least once a day if not twice (that be before I go to sleep and when I'm waking up in the morning).

I'm 19-years old, had one girlfriend before and it didn't work out and I have kind of settled into the single life now realising I'm not yet ready to have a long-term relationship with a girl yet.

The odd time it bothers me being single, but very seldomly as I'm still able to live a normal life and be happy hanging out with my mates.

But I've read different reports for and against masturbation but can't decide myself if it really does relieve my stress levels. Although I have heard that various scientists and health authorities have tried encouraging teenagers to practice masturbation daily.

I'm not as stressed as I used to be but I often consider there may be underlying factors also so it doesn't have much to do with my masturbation habits.

Point is, does it help in any way pyschologically or mentally?

Dudess

Of course it's healthy - bloody hell, if there are reports condemning it, ignore! THAT ain't healthy! It would be more unusual if you didn't masturbate - the amount you masturbate is pretty regular (a good thing - high, but not destructively so, sex drive) but it's not like you're doing it 10 times a day either, and nipping off to the loo during college/work/socialising for it (nothing wrong with that the odd time either, but a bit questionable on a daily basis, not to mention inconvenient ). Also, I don't think reduction of stress levels should be your primary concern - it is good for de-stressing, but its main function is to pleasure yourself, to get to know your body sexually and what gets you off, and to relieve sexual tension (ok, that's one form of stress, but it's not stress in general).

What's not so healthy also is that you, at 19, are thinking thoughts as to whether your life is "normal" due to being single (not that there's anything wrong with wanting to be in a relationship of course, but it should never be something that's all-consuming, especially at your age).

Carry on as you're doing - it's perfectly normal and healthy. And it's good for you.

Ickle Magoo

Like anything that's good fun, as long as indulging in masturbation isn't to the detriment of any other aspect of your life then it's all good.

Not sure who paid/commissioned/published the reports against masturbation but I can't see why masturbating twice a day single would be any less healthy than having sex 14 times a week...hell, masturbation while in a relationship is normal and healthy - I certainly wouldn't be worried about masturbating when no other outlet is possible.

All the best. :cool:

Zen65

karaokeman wrote: »

Point is, does it help in any way pyschologically or mentally?

Anything that naturally releases the pleasure-giving endorphins is good for you in moderation.

As long as you don't fret over it (and there's no reason you should) the habit itself is not psychologically harmful. Avoid using any additional stimuli to assist you (lest you suffer the same fate as David Carridine, or Michael Hutchence, to name but two). Choosing the habit as a full-time substitute for relationships would not be a healthy choice, so don't opt out of your social life thinking "I'm ok..... I can take care of myself!"

Frequent expulsion of semen is physically beneficial to the prostrate and has been shown to reduce the chances of prostrate cancer (although at 19 this is most unlikely to be an issue for you).

Be at peace,

Z