Why Do I Feel Guilty After Masturbating

“Masturbate often? Do you have any idea how much time it takes to masturbate? For most guys, we’re talking about hours — maybe even days — of self-pleasuring. In fact, some experts estimate that roughly one third of all adult males masturbate on a regular basis.
For a lot of us, this can be a pretty private activity. We might want to keep our masturbation habits to ourselves because we don’t want anyone else knowing what we do when we’re alone with a partner or by ourselves at home. Or we may feel embarrassed by our own arousal (or lack thereof) in front of other people. And while masturbation certainly isn’t harmful in any way, there’s nothing wrong with feeling guilty after indulging in solo sex play.
In an article published recently in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, researchers from Indiana University say they’ve come up with “”an entirely new category”” of sexual disorder, called “”masturbatory distress syndrome.”” They believe that nearly half of all American men experience some degree of masturbation-related anxiety. The authors call their condition “”masturbative psychosexual morbidity,”” which sounds way more serious than just masturbating too much.
So why are so many of us feeling guilty for enjoying such a natural act of pleasure? It turns out that masturbating regularly has some negative effects on your mental well-being. According to Dr. Nicholas Eapen, associate professor of psychiatry at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, there are several possible reasons why we might feel ashamed after having an orgasm.
First off, if you’re not used to masturbating frequently, your body may not know what to expect. You could end up overdoing things, especially during those first few times. This is similar to how inexperienced drinkers sometimes go overboard trying to get drunk — they drink way too much water, sugar drinks like soda pop, alcohol and then down shots of whiskey until they pass out.
Another reason why you might feel embarrassed by masturbation is that you might see yourself as less of a man if you don’t ejaculate. If you only climax once every couple months, you might think that you’re lacking something very important. Plus, if you haven’t been able to produce a semen sample in awhile, you might worry that your penis doesn’t work right anymore.
Eapen says that being unable to achieve orgasm is actually a common problem among young boys. Many kids aren’t taught masturbation techniques early enough, leading them to avoid touching themselves altogether. As adults, though, we should still try to learn everything we can about pleasing ourselves through masturbation.
If you’re struggling to find the right technique for achieving orgasm, check out these tips from the editors of Men’s Health magazine.
But let’s talk about that guilty feeling. Why does it happen? Is there any real physiological explanation? Yes, according to another recent paper in JSM, authored by Dr. Jennifer M. Rupp, who teaches psychology at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. She believes that excessive masturbation can lead to long-term psychological problems, such as depression and anxiety.
The short answer to why you might feel guilty is simply that you shouldn’t. Masturbation is a completely natural part of human sexuality. There’s no reason to feel ashamed of it, but you need to set realistic boundaries for yourself. That means taking breaks from self-touching whenever necessary.
You also might consider using lubricants to help make masturbation easier. Some toys designed specifically for women may be helpful, too. For example, the Rabbit style vibrator provides clitoral stimulation without stimulating internal anatomy. Another option is the LELO G-spot stimulator, which features three different vibration patterns to hit the area directly below the pubic bone.
Finally, if you’re concerned about hurting someone else, ask your doctor before experimenting with anything new. And remember, masturbation is perfectly fine in moderation. Just don’t turn it into a compulsive habit!
Learn more about masturbation by reading related articles on the next page.”