Masturbation abstinence is popular online. Doctors and therapists are worried

https://www.npr.org/2026/01/01/1198916105/mens-health-masturbation-abstinence

by laurex • 2 years ago

34 14 2 years ago

h2odragon• 2 years ago

You'll go blind if you do, you'll go nuts if you don't.

Teddy Roosevelt might've used the word "Continence" in speaking of the same subject. I guess it's easier when you have access to horses.

Edit to clarify: "I guess"; me personally.

I am not speculating on the propriety or depth of Mr Roosevelt's relationships with anyone or anything.

Loughla• 2 years ago

Are you saying Teddy Roosevelt banged horses?

mcphage• 2 years ago

A nod’s as good as a wink to a blind bat.

DrFell• 2 years ago

Once a day, after dinner. Too early, too much, vents mojo. You want to want. It's the driver.

quickslowdown• 2 years ago

This sounds lifted straight from a Rogan episode

dysoco• 2 years ago

I wonder if there's a certain observable benefit to this, not biological but in creating an habit of self-control plus also the placebo effect that must come from this.

It could very well be replaced with reducing Youtube or videogames usage as well though.

EA-3167• 2 years ago

As far as I know there is no known benefit, but for males at least there is the possible downside of very slightly increased risk of prostate cancer/dysfunction. Frankly it isn't that well studied, but it's worth saying that quacks, mystics, ascetics and charismatic leaders have claimed "nofap" is profoundly beneficial. It's also worth saying that they've never managed to demonstrate that alleged benefit in a satisfactory way.

The current movement bears all of the hallmarks of cults.

BriggyDwiggs42• 2 years ago

I mean it’s far larger than a normal cult and not centralized around a figure, but i get where you’re coming from.

orwin• 2 years ago

My aunt is an addictologist (my spellchecker disagree with this word, "addictologue" in French?), and 15 years ago, we talked about sex addiction replacing other addictions, and how some people could have characteristics/behavioral patterns that will push them towards comportemental addictions that will hurt them.

I'm definitely in that case, and i try to keep masturbation as at most an escape when i'm bored, and try to keep the material light (mostly erotica literature), to avoid addiction.

I do think that a masturbating addiction can be damaging, and if people really cannot control themselves, maybe abstinence can be a way.

I would temper that a bit more: by far, the most damaging comportmental addiction to me is food addiction, except you cannot be a food abstinent. Masturbation is quite tame, and easy to replace with something more enjoyable in the long run. And also, masturbating is a great way of knowing your body, how it work and respond, and how to control it better.

Bancakes• 2 years ago

Reducing all those things will make you more dopamine sensitive, hence motivated and appreciative of earning real stimulation.

DilettanteQuant• 2 years ago

On what basis do you make this claim? On google scholar I can find 100s of studies pointing to negative impacts which have biological basis. https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/review_article/pdf/131357/...

Masturbation abstinence is popular online. Doctors and therapists are worried

Related Stories