Ok no Porn, but what about Masturbation? (I'm confused)

[Caravan7]

So, help me out, because I'm confused about this.

You left porn for good and happen to be single. Well, you know, masturbation as such is not necessarily unhealthy. Semen accumulates in time, you are a human being and thus sexual by definition, it would seem normal that sometimes you need that release, organic, physical, and emotional.

I get it, when leaving porn the no-fap corollary is there because porn addiction tends to make you masturbate compulsively. Plus, even when the porn is not on the screen, it can still be interiorized in your head. So you can still PMO with the images only in your head (not sure if there's research about this).

So the question then is: what is healthy masturbation while rebooting (or after you have rebooted for good!)? What do you think about while doing it? The girl you'd like to date (assuming you know one)? Do you make your fantasies more holistic, more romantic, so that they don't reinforce the porn habit?

If you are single for a while (which can happen), it doesn't seem to me good self-caring to deny yourself sexual release of any kind for months on end!

(When you have a stable partner, that's perhaps a different discussion)

Your thoughts/experiences on this?
Thank you folks!

 

[journeytopeace]

I am only speaking for myself here. I am married and have a reasonably active sex life so that helps me. I am yet to have the urge to masturbate but if I feel I need this release I will attempt to push any thoughts of porn out of my head altogether. I will reminisce about past experiences with my wife or fantasize about girls I know. I feel personally as long as I am not using porn in any way whether made up in my head, from memory or on a screen then it can't be doin much harm. Please acknowledge that this is purely my point of view and approach. My personal goal is to never consume porn again for PMO. Hope this helps.

 

[Fappy]

if its not to any artificial stimulation and nothing pornographic, whats wrong with it? of course dont make a habit out of it like you need to wank compulsively. thats a problem. what do you think about? i think that differs from person to person, whatever u like i guess? (best keep that to yourself!)
but dont overthink it too much, its just wanking! not something that deserves critical and deep thought!

 

[journalnaruto]

Questions
1) What do you think about while masturbating?
2) How do you feel afterwards you are done?

You don't have to answer them here but it's worth giving a thought, might clear your confusion.

 

[Caravan7]

Thank you all for the insights!
From what I can tell so far, there is a difference between not having had orgasm in a few days, then you get an impulse from within, more physiological than emotional, and you need that release.
AND
Being stressed or angry or frustrated and using masturbation as a soothing mechanism. In such cases, the fantasies tend to resemble a porn situation. I think there's still a rut in my brain I gravitate toward, even if I have not actually watched any porn in 7 months.

So perhaps the fact that we are naturally sexual and semen wants to come out once in a while is one thing, the addictive/compulsive use of MO for release/coping is similar to smoking, drug, or alcohol use: it masks a deeper issue (and I know what the issue is, working on it).

Thank you Fappy, I agree there's no need to get too analytical for no reason, but I suspect the above are real matters..? maybe

Journalnaruto, thank you, for question 2: I always feel good! I've never felt guilty or bad after masturbation, always in a warm fuzzy feeling, and a pleasant sense of bodily relaxation. Rather, there is a broader, underlying frustration (more existential and global than momentary)

Cheers