** This is not a battle of the physical. This is a spiritual battle,** and you need to have spiritual weapons. I second the poster who suggested falling asleep with a rosary. I also suggest putting a holy card or some image of Our Lady by your bed. If you have access to blessed salt or holy water, use them! Bless yourself before bed and put the salt in the corners of your room. It may seem that this is just something that you’re struggling with because you’re “weak”, but this is, at it’s heart, a spiritual battle.
Cari, I do love the advice you offered in here, but I disagree on the bolded point above. I’m convinced there is some chemical dependancy involved in masterbation. Much like smokers get their fix. And druggys get their fix.
There is some sort of release that men (I don’t really know much on women) feel once they have accomplished this act. The desire to do it fades quickly.
AnonymousPrayer, men need to prepare for both the spiritual and physical side of this perversion. Many people have addressed the spiritual side better than I can hope to, and I would say make sure to really try what they suggest - it will help. But also prepare for the physical side as well. Know when you are most likely to get that pull and control that environment.
That may mean getting to bed. It may mean keeping doors open. It may mean puting your computer out in a common room or taking the internet card/cord out the computer. You know (or can soon recognize) when you are falling…cut those places and times out of your life.
With smoking there are those who stop cold turkey and those that take the steps. You talked about getting it back to once a week, that’s great just not good enough

So, try scaling it back more.
You need to have the goal of quiting cold turkey, but if reality is you will likely fall again…don’t beat yourself up. Stregnthen your resolve by resisting longer and weaken the attachment to masturbation by staying away longer.
Also, find other fillers for whatever emotional needs it provides. If it helps you when you are depressed, nervous, sad, tired, etc… get other things you can do at those times so when you get depresses you don’t think…we I can masturbate or I can stay depressed.
I’ll pray for you as well. It’s a battle, decide to fight it to the end.
