Quitting

[Eli.]

So, I used to watch porn, and it made me kinda depressed. The idea that somebody who had dreams to be an astronaut or a doctor was now filming themselves having intercourse for a living, was really saddening. I used to picture the people telling their mom they wanted to be a dentist, or other job, when they grow up, then telling their mom they make porn.
So about a week ago I quit watching porn, and I love it! No becoming depressed over pornstars, no worrying about being caught, it is great. But along with quitting porn, I quit masturbating. Which also, is great! Doing that might have felt good externally, but it felt bad internally.
So I was wondering, is there anybody who can relate? Who doesn't watch porn or masturbate? Also, I read some article that masturbating is good for you, but is it bad if I don't?
Thanks :)

[ska8er]

Whoa! U want to live in a bubble?
Enjoy urself while u can and y get
depressed over porn stars-theyre
enjoying themselves?

[countryplowboy]

Well I can respect your decision Eli. I never cared much for porn either..masturbation however is something I really enjoy...see I don't really get the guilt that some do. Its my body and I'm not harming my self or anybody else. Its not an obsession for me and it helps keep me on track of my goal to remain a virgin until marriage..so for me it has benefits. But again you do what you feel is right and don't let anyone shame you about it. Good for you! I certainly can respect you!

[Hermes]

There do seem to be some health benefits to masturbation: a reduced risk of prostate cancer later in life has been mentioned here before. Mostly guys it helps the relax and be less stressed. It's not like you will get ill if you don't do it, though so if you don't feel the desire to do it then it's fine not to.

On the other hand if you are having to resist wanting to and the feeling good about not doing it is because of avoidance of guilt then it may be better to explore what makes you feel guilty about it and whether that guilt is reasonable. As an example the bible is pretty strong on avoiding adultery but many people have misinerpret passages that are intended to support the anti-adultery view. One example would the passage about "looking lustfully at another woman". In that context other means "other than your wife" and a woman would be a married woman because in those times, by the time a girl was a woman she would be married. So that passage that is often used to say that lusting after some pin-up is a sin wasn't written with a young single girl/woman in mind as the object of lust. The Onan story is about failing to provide a son for his dead brother's wife and not about masturbation at all.

[owl__city]

Do what you think is best for you. Every person is different.
Even though jerking off is not bad for you and I think the only thing that made you "depressed" about doing it is that it was psychologically connected to the fact that you watch porn with it. Try do it without it or find other ways (imagine, etc') and it will feel good and right again.

[Bull]

Never cared much for porn of any kind, just not my thing. As for masturbation, I started really young (wanted to get that "feeling") and kept at it. Now that I live with my partner and have an awesome sex life together, solo masturbation is no longer a part of my sex routine. I see no harm or problem with masturbation. It relieves stress, plus it feels really good! So my message is: go enjoy and get that "feeling"!!!

[jamie_n5]

Everyone needs to do what they feel is right for them man. Masturbation is a natural and healthy thing. It does not require watching porn to enjoy. Your fantasies and imagination are far better than any porn can be anyway. The porn made by porn stars is so far fetched anyway and I agree with you it can be very depressing because it portrays things that are so far from reality. It's no wonder so many teens now have such messed up minds about sex.

[Harrier]

Well you can't assume that they ever wanted to be astronauts or doctors. And even so, not like EVERY person who dreamt of becoming one ever does or can become one! However I agree that if it makes you depressed then you shouldn't do it and I agree that many (not all) porn stars are sad and ruined (often by drugs tho, not necessarily getting plowed by big cocks).