Hey! Well it’s something I learned from my old therapist in college. :)

I thought I was addicted to pornography and had other coping patterns that were unhealthy. He explained I wasn’t addicted but was using masturbation as an escape. He helped me identify my triggers (talking to my parents usually lol) and recognize that it was escapism to avoid feeling anxious, depressed etc.. . Btw I’m a female to add context. It might be totally different for men. I couldn’t fall asleep without using it to turn off my brain.

I struggled with purging and masturbation for over a decade. I’m now married with two kids. My husband has been my biggest supporter. Masturbation is something I’ve chosen to abstain from. I’ve learned that reading books, working out, and finding a new hobby have helped me cope when I begin feeling negative overwhelming emotions. My therapist told me that the new coping pattern I choose doesn’t have to be perfect but just a little better and then continually keep improving till you’ve formed positive life habits. I would be lying if I said I was perfect but I keep having longer and longer time apart from using it as an escape. Months have turned into years. Sometimes now I’ll be feeling like crap and my thoughts will turn to porn but my brain now is turned off by it. Never thought I’d get to this point.