Masturbation Shame Discussion

I read those sex books in the sixties and I wondered when I was going to feel all this shame about it?

Now I do it till I'm close to orgasm but I don't let myself that way I can do it over and over and I don't waste it because I want to save it for actual sex.

I look at it like a team sport. It's good to practice but I can't let it interfere with the actual game.
 
some of us are benched, so it **is** our game! (sexless marriage)
 
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I too resonated with this topic. Growing up in the Church which taught masturbation was wrong and sinful and you were supposed to confess this. I had lots of issues with masturbating as a kid despite doing it frequently (up to 5 times a day). But then I'd spiral into guilt and shame and try and stop, but that didn't go well, or for long. But it wasn't just the Church that was a factor. At the time it was not culturally sanctioned. At school, it was never spoken of in positive light. As boys, we'd never openly talk about masturbation. It was also used as a way to put people down a bully other boys' whether you actually did it or not. I recall one boy who has caught masturbating in the school toilet and he was crucified as a result by other boys.

As someone mentioned earlier, I learned theologically that there is nothing to support the condemnation of masturbating. It took me ages though to deal with feeling like God was punishing me if something went wrong around the time I had masturbated. I still feel it sometimes. But I'm far more able to go "oh that stupid line again" and be OK with it.

I think the culture has changed a lot too and it's far more normalised and acceptable. The boys at the school I work at are very comfortable with talking about masturbation (way more than I'd be interested to hear) and their practices - especially among the boarders. They are certainly more open and liberated than I was or my peers when I was their age. Hopefully, they will grow to have a much healthier attitude. I still have the occasional one who brings up the religious issue but I can point them in the direction that helps clear that up for most - some are too ingrained by their church teaching to accept it at present.
 
I went into the church as an adult when I married and let me be clear, born again baptists.

So I was sitting there with repressed memories of CSA, sexual fantasies involving things half remembered and, my bible. Nice.

It's been a long road for me and I went into the church with all my cPTSD behaviour. I was already nutty as a fruitcake.

But I reconciled myself with God. Yes, God capital G. The big old man with the white beard on the throne. It wasn't nearly as hard as I thought.

My thinking was so messed up though from CSA I couldn't do anything so it's not surprising that I'd end up having problems relating to God and the church.

What I finally realised was most of the people in the church were really messed up which is why they end up there, trying to make sense out of it all.

I'm looking to switch churches which is another long story. I don't know how much of it has to do with wanting to be anonymous. I'd like to forget what most of my behavior has been like most of my life.

I wish I lived in the Bible Belt so there were churches everywhere and so lots of choices. I'm in New England. Definitely not the Bible Belt.
 
Where there is grace is no place for shame. Sorting through all of this as what's right what's wrong can do a number on us. Add in the things done wrong to us from an adult and we link masterbation to being wrong.

It took me years to rid myself of shame realize im made as a sexual being but that's not all I am.

Im glad this generation is viewing this differently.

Sawyer
 
Have any of you guys heard the phrase compulsive sexual behavior also called sexual addiction? I was reading about it actually taking the test to see if it applies to me... one of the questions was have you had more than 7 orgasms in a week? I thought oh my God I've had more than that in a day! It kind of scared me.
 
yep 3-4 times per week is more "normal" I am there now, but "back in the day" I was like you!
 
The ugly truth?
I never did it for pleasure, I did it to be lost in thoughts, I never discovered j.o. I have always done it prone. It has nothing to do with how it feels, hell I used to rub myself horribly raw, but it didn't matter.

A week ago I realized how numb I have always been to my genitals. Growing up, when I was done, I didn't clean up, I just fell asleep in the mess, cause to me, it just didn't happen. And no one (like my mother who washed the sheets) never said a fucking word. Ever.

I started early, elementary school. They were dry of course, but vile. Masturbation was always an ugly inward thing. My fantasies were direct rip offs of the assault, violence and humilation. I spend every waking hour dreaming of making out with beautiful boys, but wen it came time to masturbate, those lovely romantic visions were trampled.

A T suggested I attempt to explore physical sensation. I can a bit, on and off. But I am really working on it now. I don't want to be numb anymore! I won't be. I am taking it back and I will find easy pleasure.
 
@CelloL you are not alone. I am prone too. I think most of the "Science" saying it's bad was one toxic paper without merit. As with anything there are downsides. I protect my skin now against rub burns.
 
I remember this woman in the 80's saying that it was being used to push away the pain like a drug and that if we wanted full healing we should hold back - well I"d tried!! I have now gone 2 years without and I can say this woman was right! (for me). I have faced more pain in the last two years and seen the reality of my past and come to acceptance of it like never before. I have patches: I even went back into self harm a month ago but that was a spike in the pain from issues with facing how absent my mother was. I also see how this compulsion was keeping trauma bound to sex with my wife. So I get how impossible the idea of quitting is and the shame and guilt but I am so glad I took on this 12 step. I get my 2 year Chip - which I will not be wearing as a medallion round my neck!

Heal well - and receive no shame from me.
 
I was raised to believe masturbation was a very serious sin, and I had a lot of shame, extreme anxiety, and anger to overcome in my 20s and 30s. I am still dealing with it, though it has gotten much better and I’m not ashamed of my body’s normal desires anymore. It took plenty of counseling, meditation, and I also moved to a more positive church. I am in a much better place currently, still with plenty of work to do, and proud of the progress I’ve made. Counseling and talking to others him proved my life for the better.
Thank you to everyone who has shared their feelings and progress so far. It helps me keep things in perspective. Sometimes it’s easy to feel like I’m alone in this kind of guilt, and even though I know it’s not the case, I still appreciate hearing from others who have suffered and dealt with this.
 
HusbandMaterial.com has great resources and a podcast to help with Porn and masturbation Addictions.
 
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