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Some (but not all) sex and porn addicts have a pathological relationship with masturbation.
When constructing a sexual sobriety plan, sometimes referred to as a circle or boundary plan, one potentially problematic gray area is masturbation. For individuals who compulsively masturbate (with or without pornography), the decision is clear: Masturbation is a prohibited activity (inner circle/boundary). For others, there is less clarity. In such cases, we must ask ourselves if masturbation consistently fuels the ‘high’ of the addiction. Depending on the answer, masturbation might be viewed as a prohibited inner circle/boundary activity, a slippery but still-sober activity (middle circle/boundary), or a healthy activity (outer circle/boundary). When there is confusion about where to place masturbation within a sexual sobriety plan, it is best to err on the side of caution.
Task for Today
Think about your masturbation history. When did it start? How has it escalated? What role does it play in your addiction?