I usually try to get busy doing something else. In school it's pretty easy, but if I'm home and I can't get the privacy, it's a lot tougher. The worst place is when I'm riding the bus and there's no real diversion to take my mind off it — especially when the ride itself is giving me an erection.
- age 16, Washington
I deal with the urge by focusing completely upon the fantasy I am having (or whatever else is going on) and then thinking how un-sexy it really is. So what I am doing in my head is adding reality to a fantasy situation. Or, sometimes I put all of this energy into something else, like music. I tend to come up with really good ideas!
- age 14, Canada
I just enjoy being horny, so I don't have a real problem with not being able to masturbate right away. If I can't do it, I just enjoy the feeling and energy until I can expend it. I find that I am hyper when I am horny, so sometimes I like to let it build to enjoy the high.
- age 21, Arizona
When I have the urge to masturbate but not the privacy, I try to think of more boring things. I have tried to "meditate" by thinking a single thought or thoughts — as though I were a Vulcan on Star Trek. "Logic...no emotion" or something of that sort. However, I will masturbate as soon as the opportunity presents itself.
- age 14, New Jersey
I torture myself until I find a bathroom — or, I do everything in my power to get home *fast*!
- age 16, Missouri
I just pop in a movie or get on the phone and talk to friends to keep my mind off it. Or, I do homework — that really takes away the urge! And if I *really* need to get rid of the urge, I just think about two old people doing it! [Chuckle]
- age 17, Oregon
I get hyper and run around like an idiot.
- age 14, Texas
Squeezing my legs together releases some tension if I have gotten to that point of arousal when the blood flow is heavy to the area. But if it is just on my mind, I usually keep thinking about it — letting my mind wander, thinking about when I actually will get to get off — and squeezing my legs intermittently. Fantasizing and daydreaming like this works only if nothing else is going on, because it does worsen the problem. This works nicely though if I'm unable to masturbate only for a short time. If I haven't had a chance to be alone with myself for a long time, when I finally have the chance to reacquaint myself, I want to do it with a monster orgasm — usually with a vibrator, a special treat. Patience is the key to almost everything in life; wait out the urge, and it won't go away entirely — I promise! It will resurface at an appropriate time, when it can be handled successfully.
- age 20, Pennsylvania (female)
Usually I never have the time to masturbate. When I get home from school, my sister and mom are home. Then my stepdad gets home at 6, and I go to bed before him. Usually I say I'm going to take a quick shower and masturbate in there, very quietly. Or, if it's wintertime, I put a blanket over me and do it then, and no one suspects a thing because they think I am warming myself up (which I am!).
- age 16, Arizona
I usually think about playing baseball. It's the only other stimulating thing in my life.
- age 17, Illinois
I say the alphabet backwards in my head. This takes my mind off it.
- age 16, Connecticut
This usually happens when I'm either in school or in a room with my parents. I try to get rid of the urge by thinking of something completely non-sexual, like a math problem, or I hum a song I don't like. That gets the old dog to sit — ya know what I mean?
- age 15, Oregon
I think about how and where I will masturbate. In a way, I like to deprive myself of masturbation because the energy builds up over time. When I finally get the chance, it's awesome to relieve all of that built-up energy at once.
- age 17, Pennsylvania
I do some kind of physical activity that drains energy, like exercising, biking (which also helps because the seat stimulates the area), or running. And, I do Kegel exercises — they work those muscles and will eventually satisfy them temporarily.
- age 19, Michigan (female)
Hmmm...it's good to have another hobby. I find that doing something with your hands is good...also something mentally stimulating. Thinking about something else — getting your mind off it — does help. If you just sit around and watch TV, you're bound to end up masturbating!
- age 24, Pennsylvania
I think about my parents having sex. That turns me off very fast.
- age 16, California
I have to share a room with my sister, and though she knows I masturbate and I know she does as well, I cannot bring myself to do it while she's asleep. This builds a lot of tension. When I get turned on, which seems to be more and more recently, I have found that getting away from the places I masturbate (mainly my bed and the bathroom) can help me to forget about it. Also, going to strike up a conversation with my mom always does the trick. However, I have found a few ways to at least treat myself enough to hold me over until I have the room to myself so that I can do it in private. Stuff like crossing my legs and flexing my thigh muscles works well, so if you see me with my legs crossed and a big smile on my face, now you know what I'm doing! Also, bike rides are nice.
- age 15, North Carolina (female)
I urinate to get rid of the erection.
- age 15, Australia
I make believe that just tonight I'll have the very chance to meet the girl of my dreams. She will touch my hand and say, "Okay." And I repeat to myself, "Keep your energy, boy — it will be demanded tonight!" (That has never actually happened before.)
- age 17, Russia
That's a tough question. The erection is my main problem when I want to masturbate but can't — and the fact that I can't think of anything else. This happens mostly in school. I start thinking about masturbating, and in no time I have an erection. To deal with it, I try to think of something else, which almost never works. Sometimes I can manage to think about something that takes a lot of attention so I can't think about my erection and wanting to masturbate. As stupid as it sounds, one thing is to do division and multiplication in my head. For example, I'll figure out 175 divided by 3 (tick- tock, tick-tock!). It's not too difficult, but it's hard to think about your penis while you're figuring it out. If I don't need to get rid of the erection but I'm excited, I like to just rub myself a little bit. I usually do that in class or in the car. With some practice, it's not very obvious, and it does a pretty good job of taking care of the urge. Finally, if I can't get rid of the erection and I have to make it less obvious, I do something that's pretty much common sense: I move my penis around to position it so that it points straight up. If I can get it into the waistband of my boxers, that's even better. Then it's very hard to tell I have an erection. I think having the urge to masturbate and not being able to do so is one of the tortures that teenage guys like myself have to go through.
- age 16, Ohio
With no time, well...I will just have to be late! And with no privacy, well...I have found *very* few occasions when it was impossible to do it when I really wanted to. You can always *make* a way, if you want it bad enough. There is always a bathroom stall or an empty room or a dark corner. Sometimes it has to be done in absolute silence, for example if you have the misfortune of needing to share a room, or worse yet a bed! I've done both...just move *very* slowly! In summary, if I don't have time or privacy, I *make* time and privacy!*
- age 26, Montana
I put on a really tight pair of jeans and ride my motorcycle — and look for the bumpiest road possible!
- age 40, New York (female)
I simply think about something philosophical, or that doesn't have an answer, like, "Why is Earth the only planet with life?" and the urge will go away quickly. See, I just lost mine!
- age 16, New Jersey
I force myself to do something to take my mind off it. Usually, something physical works best. Even just a quick walk around the hallway works.
- age 20, Canada
I'll usually try to get totally involved with the present work or activity so I'm not thinking of sexual matters at all. That usually works. If not, and I really have to do it, I'll make an excuse to go to the toilet and masturbate there.
- age 27, United Kingdom
I must admit; this is one of the most annoying things that can happen. Sometimes I will discreetly rub my erection a little, but this only makes the urge worse. If I focus strongly on something, the urge usually goes away.
- age 14, Florida
I cross my legs and think of an ex.
- age 27, Michigan (female)
I just look forward to the pleasure that I know I will experience when I do have the time and privacy. Masturbating is like dessert after dinner. You don't always get it, but when you do....MMMM!
- age 32, Indiana
I read or do something completely non-sex-oriented, such as play video games.
- age 17, Florida
That's a stupid question. There's always a way, no matter where you are. If you're clever and resourceful enough, you can always find a way.
- age 18, Oklahoma