Accidental Masturbation?

[Hotgoldensun]

Hi all,
I am only fifteen years old, and go to a catholic high school. I am not Roman Catholic, however a Maronite Catholic. I attend daily Mass, and go to confession every Saturday. My faith is very strong, and i even have a passiont enter a Maronite seminry when i am eligible. Two weeks ago on a Monday I told myself It is time to stop my sin of masturbation after struggling with it for many years. I can easily avoid pornography, and I went to confession that day. I did not masturbate at all for a week and a half, and thats when I randomly woke up at my normal time in the morning and I had ejaculated randomely. I admit I was dreaming about some lustful thoughts, and before I went to sleep I stopped thinking about it telling myself that the devil is tha father of many lies. I say an act of contrition, prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, and several other payers before I go to bed. I was sad about what had happened, because I am so proud not to have to confess in the confessional, “I masturbated this past week”. I had this same problem this morning, and I randomly ejaculated when I woke up. So my main questions are ha there ever been any, “dreaming” masturbation? Is this a mortal sin? I do not intend to masturbated, and I have not masturbated for two weeks except those two times I have explained. I’m going to try to stop this by waking up early, but I already wake up early for the most part. I am sexually cross eyed right now, and I really want some advice and answers as to what is going on . I know that if someone masturbates it is not accidental, but sometimes it is not a mortal sin. In the Theology of the Body course by PJPII I took in a course this year I learned that sexual desires are good, bu I cannot use them in the wrong way.

 

[BcuzISaidSo]

You are not held responsible for what happens when you are asleep…or even in that stage of “not quite awake”.

 

[Hotgoldensun]

Thank you so much for this information ! I truly feel much better. Others may keep posting advice or info about this situation, because I want to know more about it so i can prevent it from happening again.

 

[RPRPsych]

I think what you’re talking about is a nocturnal emission (colloquially called a “wet dream”), not “accidental masturbation” (which is a very rare condition, sometimes called “sex-somnia” by sleep specialists.) It’s entirely involuntary, meaning that you are not responsible for it, and it’s an almost universal experience for adolescent boys as well as men. So fear not, I very much doubt that you’ve sinned here. And keep fighting the good fight.

 

[Hotgoldensun]

Thanks

 

[JRKH]

Thank you so much for this information ! I truly feel much better. Others may keep posting advice or info about this situation, because I want to know more about it so i can prevent it from happening again.

Absolutely agree with the others here. Do not worry about this. It is just something that occasionally occurs.

That said, such things can be indications of certain underlying temptations and old habits. By this I mean that right now you are striving to overcome the particular sin of masturbation. Part of this struggle is to “reprogram” your thinking. Right now your brain is still “use to” thinking about these things and the most likely time for them to crop up unimpeded is when your guard is down - in your sleep.

Of course you are right to be unhappy about this occurrence as it is not something to be preferred or encouraged. The best course of action is to continue what you are doing. To move away from sinful thoughts and actions in all of your waking moments. Perhaps even develop some prayerful way to fall asleep…Some pray the rosary in bed (when I do I generally don’t get one decade done.)…All of these things will work to “rewire” the thought process and, over time, you will likely see a decrease in the incidences of “wet dreams”. At least that was my experience.

God Bless your efforts with ever increasing grace.

Peace
James

 

[Chuck1]

I am 16 and I agree with everyone’s comments so Don’t worry about it , it happens , it happens to me and every male on the earth most likley ! You have no control over and did not give your consent so it’s not a sin , it justs what happens in teenage years and is apart of growing up so Relax ! I’ve decided to give up the habit of masterbation and trying to reprogram my thinking and been clean for 3 weeks since I failed again so it does get easier just distract yourself and focas on god or pray a hail Mary or anything that helps to stop ! So have a good weekend anyway and gd luck !
Your in my prayers m8 !
Chuck

 

[Hotgoldensun]

Thanks for the advice JRKH ! I normally say random prayers when I am falling asleep and then stop, but I will try to keep a rosary with me tonight, since your advice sounds good

 

[Hotgoldensun]

I am 16 and I agree with everyone’s comments so Don’t worry about it , it happens , it happens to me and every male on the earth most likley ! You have no control over and did not give your consent so it’s not a sin , it justs what happens in teenage years and is apart of growing up so Relax ! I’ve decided to give up the habit of masterbation and trying to reprogram my thinking and been clean for 3 weeks since I failed again so it does get easier just distract yourself and focas on god or pray a hail Mary or anything that helps to stop ! So have a good weekend anyway and gd luck !
Your in my prayers m8 !
Chuck

Well, I finally found out how to quote lol! Anyways thanks Chuck , and I accepted your friend request! You have an awesome weekend as well!

 

[JRKH]

Thanks for the advice JRKH ! I normally say random prayers when I am falling asleep and then stop, but I will try to keep a rosary with me tonight, since your advice sounds good

You are welcome…I hope that this is of good help to you.

I will offer to you one more thing - more connected with the “conscious” temptation than with the unconscious - but still it might be of help…in your effort to “reprogram” your thought processes

It is what finally allowed me to stop…

I developed a “visual prayer”…After all, if we can “visualize” toward lust - why not “visualize” away from it…
So I prayed, “Father, take me to the foot of the cross”, and then began thinking, visualizing myself there. Gazing on the scene of the one who died for my sins.
Hot, dry, dusty day.
The foot of the cross buried in the ground.
The wood of the cross stained black from blood and sweat.
The feet of our Lord.
Filthy and stained and dripping blood and sweat.
I did this - I put Him there - Not alone - but I helped.
Every time I sin, it is increases His pain.
If I refrain, it eases His pain.
Feel the heat of that day, the dryness of the air.
How thirsty He is…
…and so on…

How could I possibly sin while standing at the foot of the cross.

Peace
James