Masturbation for Stress Relief

When life’s stresses are piling up and you need some relief, one solution might (literally) be right at your fingertips. Masturbation might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you’re feeling stressed, but it really can be an effective way to let go of some of the tension you are carrying around.

Masturbation refers to stimulating one’s genitals for sexual arousal or pleasure, often to reach orgasm. It’s common among individuals of all age groups and is considered a key player in healthy sexual development. The term “masturbation” can mean different things to different people. Some may choose to engage in it alone, while others may masturbate in the presence of a partner.

Regardless of how it’s practiced, masturbation can be an effective tool for improving mental health and relieving stress. However, it can come with unpleasant side effects like feelings of guilt, shame, and anxiety. Some may also develop compulsive masturbation habits that impair their quality of life. 

How Masturbation Can Help Reduce Stress

Though masturbation can bring about mixed emotional feelings in some individuals, the scientific data suggests that it can be an effective tool for stress relief (when practiced in moderation) because the brain releases several hormones during masturbation that can help alleviate stress.

Hormones released during masturbation include:

• Oxytocin: Oxytocin, the “love hormone,” is a neurotransmitter released during orgasm, which has stress-relieving properties. One of oxytocin’s functions is bringing about feelings of greater connectivity and increasing pro-social behavior. Research has also found that oxytocin can alleviate stress and anxiety, and also helps individuals better process negative emotional stimuli.
• Serotonin: Another chemical released during masturbation is serotonin, a neurotransmitter that can help improve mood.
• Endocannabinoids: Masturbation can increase levels of endocannabinoids. These are hormones that bind to cannabinoid receptors just like the chemicals in cannabis do, and are responsible for maintaining homeostasis within the body. Research on endocannabinoids is still emerging, but these compounds have been found to play a role in reducing anxiety, regulating emotional behavior, and supporting cognition.  

It Can Also Help You Sleep Better

One study had 778 participants report their sleep quality, either after masturbation or after having sex with a partner.

Researchers found that, among both males and females, those who orgasmed via masturbation reported better sleep quality than when engaging in sexual activity with a partner. These individuals also reported that masturbation helped them fall asleep faster. 

It Might Even Help You Think More Clearly

Masturbation can be helpful in maintaining cognition, especially in older adults. One finding explored the relationship between sexual activity and cognitive function in over 6,800 adults between the ages of 50 and 89. Among both men and women, those who reported a higher frequency of sexual activity performed better on recall tasks.

However, this study does not examine masturbation specifically, so further research is required to determine masturbation’s effect on cognition. 

Masturbation Can Boost Self-Esteem

A little self-love isn’t just good for stress relief, it can also play a part in how good you feel about yourself. Masturbation can raise a person’s self-esteem and provide them with a sense of self-knowledge, control, and pleasure. All of these things are good for your self-image, well-being, and ability to withstand life’s stresses.

One study found that these feelings arose in a sample of 40 college-aged women who masturbated solo. The same study, however, also pointed out that masturbation led to guilt (when practiced solo) and awkwardness (both when practicing solo and with a partner). Several factors can impact how these individuals viewed masturbation, including race/ethnicity, current social norms, and underlying feelings about sex. 

Masturbation Can Sometimes Cause Stress

While masturbation has many benefits, it’s also important to recognize that it may result in feelings of guilt or shame for some people.

Though masturbation is practiced in societies around the world, many religions and cultures consider it an immoral act. Individuals in these prohibitive cultures can develop ‘masturbatory guilt,’ a phenomenon in which they become severely distressed and can develop depression and anxiety. 

Research has shown that while women often find that masturbation could help them reach orgasm, some report feelings of guilt and shame when they masturbate.

Moderation Is Key

Aside from potentially bringing about guilt, shame, or emotional distress, masturbation may also become addictive.  Self-pleasure is healthy, but too much can become a problem, particularly if it starts to interfere with your ability to function normally.

Though it’s not a diagnosable mental health condition listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, masturbation addiction can occur. This is usually when masturbation becomes excessive and compulsive, negatively impacting other areas of an individual’s life.

While it’s not a distinction condition, it does fall under the umbrella of behavioral addictions. Signs that a person might have a masturbation addiction include:

• Spending too much time masturbating
• Having problems at work, school, or home because of the behavior
• Choosing masturbation over other activities
• Engaging in the behavior in risky situations
• Being unable to stop
• Feeling distressed or guilty about the behavior
• Experiencing intrusive thoughts about masturbating