Harmfulness, moral acceptability and in some cases, the sinfulness of masturbation are some of the most hotly debated topics between the liberals and the conservatives. On one hand, many liberal view masturbation as a not only normal, but an awesome alternative to sexual intercourse that you can use to ease your hormonal urges when the hormones can’t give you a break and you are not in a position to get a partner, hence no need for efforts to overcome masturbation addiction, while on the other hand, conservatives not only claim that it is both physically and psychologically harmful, but some even go ahead to equate it to having sex with demons. In this article, I won’t discuss much of the effects of masturbation. That’s for another day. Today, the focus is on how to quit masturbation. This article is purely meant to help someone who has decided to quit do so successfully rather than to convince you that you should quit doing it.
Decide that you want to overcome masturbation addiction.
You may wonder why I’ve included this point yet for one to seek help on how to stop masturbation, s/he must have decided that it is bad. But get this, since sex starts from the mind, then stopping a sexual practice must also just start from there. Take this example; if someone wants to quit alcoholism, the easiest way to do it is to go for rehabilitation. But if a parent wants his/her child to stop alcoholism before the child decides that enough is enough, rehabilitation cannot work. So, it must start with you and it must disgust you.
Avoid pornographic content.
Pornography is the leading propeller towards the urge to masturbate. When you watch people doing foreplay in a pornographic film or having sex, your brain will also start preparing your body to do whatever they are doing. So, after watching adult content, staying without sex will be inevitable. If you don’t have a partner and fail to masturbate, you may find yourself guilty of bestiality or rape or you may be forced to spend your money on prostitutes.
Pray and avoid erotic music, both video and audio. Listen to spiritually uplifting music.
In Romans 8:5-6, the scripture says that those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on what the Spirit desires. The desires of the body are from the evil one but when we are in spirit, we overcome them. When you listen to holy and spiritually uplifting music, sinful desires won’t find a place in you. Read spiritually uplifting literature when you are free and this will help you welcome the Spirit of God into your life. It will help you overcome the urge to indulge in worldly pleasures including helping you to overcome masturbation addiction.
Set schedule
Insist that you will never do it more than twice a week, then once a week, then quit. If you’ve reached a point of not doing it in two weeks, it’s easier to quit. Don’t do it once in two weeks for the urge may return.
At this point, tell someone
This is now to avoid going back. The best person to tell is the one you are in a serious relationship with. This will be helpful because s/he can engage you in chats during the times you used to do it. You can also tell your spiritual parent or any other person you’re sure won’t tell others about it.
Keep yourself busy.
If you are male, have you ever wondered why sometimes you have sexual feelings when you wake up? When your body is at rest, more testosterone and this is the sex hormone in me. But idleness is a perfect driver towards sexual fantasies which end turn into sexual desires. So, working hard is not only good for your personal economic development but will also act as a therapy to help you resist sexual urges including helping you quit masturbation.
Avoid being alone
You can’t masturbate when anyone else other than your partner is around. So the more you stay with others, the more you deprive your body of the opportunity to push you to the wall and force you to masturbate.
John Michael 