30 something woman here, apparently I masturbate a lot compared to my friends.
I have to say “yeah once a week too” when they raise the subject ,when in fact it is multiple times a day. Husband would also do 2 times a day if he kept to his “normal” cadence. I know “whatever works for me” is right, but I’d like to compare to other people my age that aren’t my friends.
It’s more a question of why, and whether that represents something functional, or something that gets in the way of other things you want to do, or should be doing.
That’s what defines addiction; whether it’s stopping you from a lifestyle that would make your spirit happy. Basically does it get in the way or put you somewhere you don’t enjoy being?
Because there’s reason, the body, and the spirit… and they don’t always agree. So making the right choice on who to listen to is important.
…for a lot of people masturbating is their primary cope (way of dealing with stress), and it limits them. They might get a fuller life if they diversified into coping via hobbies, exercise, meditation, social activities, or self-knowledge/mastery (eg. Why do I do this?).
This gets into the question of if/when, and how to change habits.
However, it’s also perfectly possible what you do is just your jam, and you should just keep (literally) doing you.
I don’t feel like it is a coping mechanism, I mean I can’t be sure, I haven’t stopped in decades. but you make an interesting point. Thanks.