Lifestyle

NoFap: The Misleading ‘No Masturbation’ Movement

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Have you heard of the ‘NoFap’ movement currently sweeping the nation? If you haven’t, prepare yourself for the adult theme of this new trend within younger generations and read on.

Lifestyle :
Let’s cut right to the chase. Among younger males, the slang word ‘fap’ means to masturbate. So, naturally, ‘NoFap’ means to not masturbate. The term ‘NoFap’ (which is now a trademarked name and business) first appeared around 2006 on the popular online message board Bodybuilding.com. Interestingly, the very first NoFappers believed that if they could avoid masturbation, they could somehow increase the testosterone in their bodies and ultimately create more muscle “gainz.” As the movement expanded, the concept of semen retention adopted an additional viewpoint: watching pornography was evil, but skipping masturbation could increase stamina, critical thinking, and overall mental health.  

NoFap

From this mentality, NoFap.com — an online/social media organization that calls itself a “comprehensive community-based porn recovery site” — was born. Members are instructed to abstain from pornography, masturbation, and even sex altogether in order to “reboot” their brains to heal from an alleged “porn addiction“ and other sexual dysfunction. For these males, NoFap has become a secular goal that’s considered as simple as adding creatine to a protein shake. However, medical professionals don’t necessarily agree.

Interestingly, both the American Psychiatric Association and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders have never recognized porn addiction as an official diagnosis. The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists also does not believe there is sufficient scientific evidence to support the existence of sex or porn addictions. Additionally, some doctors warn that because the male body continuously produces semen, not expelling it (via masturbation or sex) might be harmful to some males.

NoFap

Rick, a 20-year-old resident of Oakland, joined the NoFap movement but began feeling an imbalance in his groin area sometime thereafter. When he went to see a doctor, the physician’s prescription was surprisingly simple: “Go home and masturbate. Let it out!”

The doctor added that since masturbation is extremely common in civilizations around the world (including the animal kingdom), any cultural or religious feelings Rick may have had against “fapping” should be ignored.

Additional medical data backed up the doctor’s recommendation.

According to a 2015 case study, some evidence suggested that masturbation is actually a healthy behavior that improves mood. An additional 2016 study found that regular ejaculation has the ability to lower the risk of prostate cancer in certain males. In fact, the study found that ejaculating more than 21 times per month offered the most benefits, compared to those who ejaculated less frequently.

Still, despite data to the contrary, some males believe they have an addiction to masturbation and/or sex and that it can be cured by denying themselves ejaculation of any kind. These are the young men who join the NoFap movement, abstain from masturbation for weeks or months, fall off the wagon and succumb to the desire to pleasure themselves either alone or with a partner, then feel guilty as if they’ve done something wrong — until they restart the cycle all over again.

NoFap

“It felt like everything was coming together to produce this environment of shame,” Derrick said after failing the NoFap rules. “And that was the worst that I had ever gotten. I just felt an immense amount of shame. That was my lowest point, feeling I just failed everyone by masturbating.” 

At the same time, Derrick coped by hyper-focusing on not failing, which only made him think about porn more. He’d give in and watch it again, and the guilt cycle would continue. 

“It was just a really, really weird time in my life,” he said.

Granted, pornography or masturbation could become a compulsion similar to a desire to eat chocolate every day. Still, that doesn’t make it an addiction that requires feelings of guilt and total abstinence, as the NoFap movement suggests.

Nicole Prause, a neuroscientist who researches human sexual behavior at the University of California and is the co-author of a recent study on NoFap, believes the so-called “relapses” among males aren’t exactly real to begin with. Why? Because NoFappers (and people who masturbate to porn) aren’t actually “addicted” to it at all.

“A real therapist would not treat fantasy as a relapse (as NoFappers do),” Prause said. “And we don’t even think about it as relapsing, because, you know, it’s not an addiction.”

“If the model is wrong, the treatment will be wrong … they’re (the NoFap movement) offering the wrong treatment because they have the wrong diagnosis. And that’s harmful.”

NoFap

OK WASSUP! discusses Lifestyle News:
The ‘NoFap’ movement is harming young males.

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DJ

DJ is the creator and editor of OK WASSUP! He is also a Guest Writer/Blogger, Professional and Motivational Speaker, Producer, Music Consultant, and Media Contributor. New York, New York USA

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Truthiz1

(Blank stare) ….

Gentlemen I will yield to you. 🙂

Last edited 1 year ago by Truthiz1
Mr.BD

Lol hey Truth this subject might be a lot for you but what about the other side of it? Young people are getting a lot of information off the internet and on social media. With this they are being told something they do is bad and they are having guilt trips over it. I bet it could lead to depression in some. Maybe you can speak on that part of it.

Truthiz1

Honestly BD I hadn’t heard about this particular madness, Oops! I mean “movement” until DJ did this post today.

Yes, it’s definitely a bit “much” for me..Lol

But a worthy topic nonetheless and that’s why I was waiting for you and hopefully a few more men to chime in and share your thoughts on the matter!

Last edited 1 year ago by Truthiz1
Mr.BD

This is a good topic with us already talking about the young generation, because a lot of them are getting bad information over social media. I see videos about this subject all the time on You Tube and it just goes to show you cannot believe everything you hear.

Mr.BD

Religion and all these groups are always talking about what is wrong and what is a sin and what not. They talk about gays being sinners. But then nobody talks about everybody having sex before marriage and having babies. If one thing is a sin then all of it is too right?

Truthiz1

Umm…okay…so serious question…

Is masterbating considered a sin?

Btw, I don’t indulge but I don’t judge those who do. And I’m not being facetious.

I’m simply asking because I honestly don’t know.

Mr.BD

Christians call it fornicating and lust which is suppose to be a sin. But some of these same christians go out and have sex and make babies so it is all a lie anyway.

Truthiz1

Oh yes, I wholeheartedly agree BD!

There’s no shortage of lying-azz, hypocrites among the so-called Holier than Thou crowd.

Truthiz1

I do have a question……

I know this is a young, White, male thing.

But has young, Black, males jumped on this crazy train too?

Last edited 1 year ago by Truthiz1
Mr.BD

Truth I honestly do not know but I seriously doubt it. I did see a Mexican guy online talk about it. He was married but his wife left him over it.

Truthiz1

Yeah, I wouldn’t think young, Black, males would be drawn to this sort of “movement.”

Last edited 1 year ago by Truthiz1
Noble

This is clearly a thing for white males. I don’t know of any black men partaking.

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