Dana thank you for what I consider a very useful articulation of a human behavior. I have an antidotal (non-scientific) observation to add as a data point. I am a 19 years sober alcoholic, drank medicinally for 20 years. Never was a “woo-hoo” fun drinker, drank to escape myself. In sobriety I have gained tools of progress toward honesty and self-objectivity. Best as I can see … I used sex, masturbation, food, alcohol to some extent for the same symptomatic benefits of changing the way I felt — relief.

The two opinions I have are, 1) it seems to me stigmatization around masturbation is absurd and counterproductive, and, 2) it might sometimes be occasion to examine more deeply what is going on in one’s life by way of anxiety, coping skills, sense of soul or psyche well being and so forth.