<human>: I have been masturbating since about the age of 14, I am now 24.  For the last couple of years, I have felt various negative symptoms but hadnt started to relate them to masturbation until this past year or so.  These include but arent necessarily limited to: constant fatigue, insomnia, hair loss, muscle soreness, ringing in the ears, lightheadedness upon standing, stress, pretty severe anxiety, frequent panic disorder / attacks, heart palpitations, irritability, etc.  I used to masturbate daily and did so for years, it seems.  And, even though it was just a handful of rare times, I remember doing it two times per day on a couple occasions (less than 10-15, Im sure).  The past couple of months I have been trying to limit the frequency of this.  I have done it 3-4 times per week.  I even went about a month without ejaculating at one point recently but did still somehow always manage to stimulate myself so I didnt feel all that better.  I have ejaculated about two times so far this new year and am now on day 4 of no masturbation.  Id like to know if you believe my symptoms are due to this and what I can do to really start on the road to recovery.  In February, I went to a local emergency department for heart palpitations.  I had tests done: EKG, blood, urine, x-ray, etc.  All came back normal gratefully.Thank you so much in advance for reading my inquiry.  I look forward to your knowledgable response very soon.Bradley
<bot>: Hi, Thanks for writing in.1. Masturbation is a safe sexual behavior when done in limit. The average man masturbates 2 to 3 times in a week. It should not be done more than once daily.2. Like any sexual activity some people might get addicted to masturbation. This leads to added stress and anxiety causing palpitation. Forceful masturbation can cause muscle soreness.3. It is good if you realize that come of the symptoms like anxiety, fatigue and insomnia can happen from too much masturbation, and you are taking measures to control it.4. Please continue for a week or longer without masturbation. If you feel uncomfortable then you can masturbate once a week to release stress.5. When you achieve control over your masturbation behavior then you can do it 2 to 3 times in a week.6. Please meet your friends, do study and keep your mind in work to avoid sexual thoughts.7. Try and avoid pornography and when you get sexual thoughts then read a book and listen to music or go for walks. Do not touch your penis except during urination. Please do not worry.