Should you stop masturbating, in addition to stopping porn?

Recently I've been asked by a lot of guys whether they should stop masturbating, in addition to stopping porn.

To answer this, let's start with understanding people's true problem.

The real problem people have when they come to me is that, on some level, they feel out of control. They have a behaviour in their life, usually porn, that they want to stop and no matter how hard they try to stop it, they keep returning to it.

Our education enables clients to stop any behaviour they want to stop.

We do this by using a script to put the rational part of the mind in control in the moments that matter - the inevitable moment of compulsive desire.

As such, my recommendation when people ask me this question is to choose to use their script for both masturbation and porn.

Before joining BCA, people often feel out of control, helpless, and are stuck in a cycle of letting the addicted part of the mind (APOTM) take control of their choices. Our solution is not to go round in circles, sinking deeper into helplessness, trying to answer unanswerable question (UQ) after unanswerable question (UQ).

A lot of therapist ask their clients UQ's with regards to masturbation.

Things like "Can't masturbation be a part of healthy sexuality for you?" Such questions just lead to more helplessness and confusion. Instead, I will give you a very clear answer.

In the earlier stages of porn addiction recovery, I highly recommend choosing to abstain from masturbation to experience the full effects of being 100% in control of your own choices, 100% of the time. Prove to yourself what is possible. Obtain peace of mind and clarity first.

And once clear on how to make choices using the rational part of the mind, rather than being driven and coerced by the addicted part of the mind, you could always go back to choosing to masturbate.

Either you take control, or the addicted part of the mind will remain in control.