I’m a 27-year-old Muslim and I’ve been struggling with pornography and masturbation addiction. I managed to quit for three months, but I relapsed and am now trying to quit again. Today is my third day, and I feel discouraged and frustrated.For those who have overcome a similar addiction, what helped you stay consistent after a relapse? How do you avoid losing motivation when you slip up?Also, what do you do when the urges become very strong? How do you deal with cravings in the moment without giving in? Any practical strategies that actually worked for you?
that’s not an addiction. it’s not hurting you. your body desires sex because it’s good for you to reproduce. letting go of the idea is bad is how your desire decreases. you’re struggling because you’re mentally obsessing over something that doesn’t actually matter. ik your religion tells you it’s bad or whatever, but seriously if you were married and having sex, basically the exact same physical response, your religion would be fine with it. it’s just arbitrarily controlling for the sake of it.
Yeah, these days everything is labeled as addiction, especially if it’s negative in the conservative tones. As long your habit doesn’t impact your daily life… it’s normal, the bar is really that low.
Now if it’s more serious, I’m afraid a more professional intervention will be required. Looking at other causes or clues that lead you to keeping this habit and compulsion.
Seconding this with caveats.
Masturbation is normal, natural and healthy (reduces the risk of prostate cancer in men). Unless it isn’t, it’s not healthy when it is an addiction and masturbation is getting in the way of life. If you’re not seeing friends or missing work or school because you’d rather watch porn and jerk off then that’s a problem. A therapist would be the best person to talk to about that if you do have an addiction.
If you’re just masturbating a few times a week then carry on, enjoy yourself and don’t feel guilty.