How long does it take to stop masturbation?

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anonymous1995

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I’ve unfortunately been infected with the sin of masturbation for a year. I did pray the Rosary daily since April and frequently go to Eucharistic Adoration, but changes are minimal. I do not despair, but I feel pretty bad when the beginning of 2017 has already been marked by sins.

Sigh…in general how long does it take for a 22-year-old male to quit masturbation?
 
It takes a lifetime.

Sexual desires are hormone driven and at your age, you have for more driving your desire than a person who’s 50 years of age.

The best you can do is of course, keep praying.

But also know that Jesus understands.

Also, try to avoid the triggers that spark sexual desires. See what they are and avoid them.

Lastly, keep in mind that God loves you, despite your failures.

Jim
 
It’s like smoking – how long it takes to quit depends on the depth of the addiction. I was only lightly addicted to cigarettes, and quitting was easy. Other people are addicted more deeply, and they have different results.

Some people are lightly addicted to sexual pleasure (or not addicted at all), and they have no trouble ceasing to masturbate. Others are deeply addicted, and they may never be able to quit, not in this natural lifetime, and not in their own power.
 
anonymous1995 said:
I’ve unfortunately been infected with the sin of masturbation for a year. I did pray the Rosary daily since April and frequently go to Eucharistic Adoration, but changes are minimal. I do not despair, but I feel pretty bad when the beginning of 2017 has already been marked by sins.

Sigh…in general how long does it take for a 22-year-old male to quit masturbation?
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Some people quit cold turkey while others struggle most of their life. I think it best not to compare ourselves to others but rather compare ourselves today to where we were yesterday.

Keep praying. Avail yourself of the sacraments as often as possible.
 
Visit confession, even weekly if you can. It was very helpful during my struggle to confront my sin and repent as often as possible.

Peace
Stephen
 
I would say also that getting a vice (lust or otherwise) under control is in large part dependent upon when and how God distributes His Grace. There is no formula for when God will give you the grace to overcome masturbation - it might be tomorrow, or it might be something you struggle with for the rest of your life (though it will most likely be somewhere in between).

My advice, for what it is worth: Make frequent use of the sacrament of Confession, be sure to receive the Eucharist as much as possible (within reason of course - don’t go taking it three times a day or anything extreme like that) when in a state of grace, pray, and practice mortification.
Further, if you have not, find a brother in whom you trust and who is also trying to grow in virtue. Have them be an accountability partner. Satan can give us a heck of a beating if we keep our sin in the dark, but if we are open about it with the right people (obviously, don’t go advertising it to everyone), then Satan loses some of his power over you.

The fight for virtue is a lot like the fight for prayer. No matter how much you struggle, the thing of utmost importance is to keep persevering. The temptation to quit fighting vice and striving for virtue is in many ways much more dangerous than the temptation to a particular sin, even a grave sin, because then the devil can have his way with us. Pray for the grace of perseverance, so that even if you struggle your entire life with lust (again, I don’t think you will, at least to the degree you might now), you can at least go before God having tried and fought your whole life long. You’d still surely need His Mercy- we all do- but this seems to me to be the most sure way.
 
As a 20 year old male, I can say that it is very difficult. I can get to about 3 weeks, but as soon as you think you’ve beaten it, its back, and the motivation is gone.
Also It tends to happen to me when I wake up in the early hours of the morning, when my brain is half asleep and dosen’t fight it.
a really horrible problem to have.
we’ll get through it though, need to keep active and busy. If you are sitting around alone with nothing to do, take a walk, go to a church
 
For me, 12 to 18 months. Frequent confession and prayer.

Also, it can happen to anyone. I am a woman, married, was at the time, and had plenty of relations with my husband and was very satisfied.

It wa something I did half my life before I became Catholic, it was a hard habit to beat.
 
anonymous1995 said:
Sigh…in general how long does it take for a 22-year-old male to quit masturbation?
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As others have said, it’s highly variable (and not limited to men). I stopped cold turkey about 18 months ago. You can do it, don’t lose hope.
anonymous1995 said:
I’ve unfortunately been infected with the sin of masturbation for a year. I did pray the Rosary daily since April and frequently go to Eucharistic Adoration, but changes are minimal.
Click to expand...
Lots of good advice to take this to confession. One thing to consider, though: is masturbation your primary sin, or is it a symptom of a greater underlying sin? For example, I struggle with truly believing God loves me as a son. I struggle with giving Him total control. These sins manifest themselves in other ways, such as taking the Lord’s name in vain, being unfairly sharp with my kids, etc. Reflect on what is leading you to masturbation, and take that to confession.

Recently, I listened to Fr. Larry Richards’ talk on Confession (Lighthouse Catholic Media, also on formed.org if you/your parish are members). It’s incredible and worth a listen. He’s also got a book, Be a Man, that is a more in-depth treatment - also worth your time.

God bless you, brother.
 
Keep confessing it as sin and something that you despise! Talk to God in your mind and plead with Him that these insatiable, primitive desires go away! Keep in mind always that the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which include wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and the fear of God are much more rewarding than the much lowered-ordered desires of sex.
 
It takes a while, but it takes alot of confession, and it takes alot of learning. the more I masturbated, the more I learned why I shouldn’t and dont have to. And everytime i did it the more I realized why It is forbidden, something you don’t understand at first. If you are on 22 , then I commend you for trying, in all honestly my brother, its pointless, I think once you understand a woman’s true worth, you won’t want just her body. I prayed for you
 
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