QUESTION:
Dear Dr. Heller,
I would really appreciate some advice. I have been masturbating since seventh grade and had really good experiences the first couple times. I have been diagnosed with OCD and am taking 10 mg of Paxil daily. I masturbate about once daily and wondering if this is masturbation addiction from OCD or just normal. I don't have to do it but it has become an established pattern.
Thank you, please send a response.
ANSWER:
There is no official "normal" range for masturbation frequency. A major sign of a problem would be if it interferes with your daily activities such as school work, socializing, extra-curricular activities and family life. Once daily is unlikely to be causing you any harm, and is unlikely to be due to the OCD, although you may be masturbating as an anxiety reducing activity. Your family and religious values can play a role in your attitudes towards masturbation and it's frequency.
