u/Evening-Scholar-7761

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I’ve had a long-standing masturbation behavior for around 14 years.

For the first \~7 years, I did it intentionally, mainly as a way to fall asleep, not because of sexual desire. For the last \~7 years, I’ve been trying to stop, but it has become automatic.

Now it mainly happens around sleep — either before falling asleep or after waking up in the middle of the night. The frequency is inconsistent: sometimes once a week, sometimes twice a week, and sometimes only once a month.

I don’t use porn and I don’t feel sexual desire or an urge to do it. I want to understand why this pattern continues and, most importantly, stop it completely.

My main questions are:

Will I be able to stop this permanently, or will the frequency only decrease while the behavior remains forever?

If I see a psychologist/hypnotherapist, is there a realistic possibility that they can help me stop it completely?

I’m worried about spending money on sessions without getting results. Could I end up just spending money and only seeing a reduction in frequency, rather than actually stopping?

Has anyone with a similar long-standing, automatic, sleep-related habit been able to stop permanently through hypnotherapy or another psychological treatment?

I’m looking for honest experiences and realistic expectations, not just reassurance.

Should I try cbt or hypnotherapy?

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I’m considering HCG treatment and wanted to hear from people who have actually used it.

What side effects did you experience?

Are there any long-term side effects?

Any personal experiences or medical information would be appreciated.

I am thinking to start for testosterone increase levels

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I’m meeting a psychologist for the first time soon. Should I prepare a written summary of my problem, timeline, previous treatments, questions, etc.? What common mistakes should I avoid, and what red flags should I look out for?

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While researching, I came across AASECT and understood that it is a major professional organization for sexuality/sex therapy.

I found two psychologists in India:

One has AASECT certification and charges ₹4,000 per session.

Another shows AASECT membership and charges ₹800 per session.

I’m not a psychologist, so I’m confused about the difference between AASECT certification/education and membership.

For those of you who are psychologists or familiar with AASECT: Whom would you suggest I consult, and what should I look for when choosing between them?

I’m from India.

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I had found this psychologist after doing quite a lot of research. On her website, I saw that she had slots of 15 minutes. At first, I honestly thought it must be a mistake. I wondered, “Why would a psychologist have 15-minute therapy sessions? Maybe the website has an error.”

But when I actually booked an appointment, I found out that she really does conduct 15-minute sessions, and the charge was ₹1,500.

I genuinely don't understand the reasoning behind this. How can a client properly explain a complicated or long-standing problem in just 15 minutes? By the time you introduce yourself, explain the main issue, give some background and answer a few questions, the session is practically over.

I'm not criticizing the psychologist personally, but I'm genuinely curious:

Why would a psychologist intentionally offer 15-minute sessions? Is this a common practice? Can meaningful psychological assessment or therapy actually be done in 15 minutes, especially for a complex problem?

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From a psychoanalytic perspective, how could masturbation become a repetitive behavior that continues even after the original reason for doing it is no longer present?

For example, imagine someone who originally used masturbation to help themselves fall asleep. Years later, the sleep problem is resolved and they consciously want to stop, but the behavior still occurs mainly around sleep or after waking during the night, without experiencing it as sexual desire.

What could explain this persistence from a psychoanalytic perspective?

I'm especially interested in whether concepts such as repetition compulsion, unconscious motivation, fixation, or the distinction between desire and repetitive behavior could explain it.

I'm looking for the underlying reason or mechanism, rather than advice on how to stop the behavior.

Is it a good idea to buy CBT course? And learn self

And treat self?

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I’m genuinely confused about this.

I was recommended to meet an RCI-registered Clinical Psychologist because I have a complex psychological problem. This made me wonder: if RCI Clinical Psychologist registration is considered so important for complex psychological cases, why do so many psychologists pursue a PhD but don't pursue the RCI Clinical Psychologist licence?

I’ve seen psychologists with PhDs in Psychology/Clinical Psychology who are not RCI-registered Clinical Psychologists.

So what is the reason?

Is a PhD mainly for research, teaching and academic careers, while RCI registration is more focused on clinical practice?

If a psychologist wants to primarily work with patients, why wouldn't they pursue RCI registration?

Is an RCI Clinical Psychologist qualification actually more important than a PhD when choosing someone for a complex psychological problem?

Can a psychologist with a PhD but without RCI registration provide the same level of clinical treatment as an RCI-registered Clinical Psychologist?

I’m trying to understand this because I was specifically advised to see an RCI Clinical Psychologist, and I’m now confused about why many highly qualified psychologists don't pursue that route if it is that important for clinical work.

Would appreciate answers from psychologists or people familiar with the Indian system.

Before choosing a psychologist, what things should I look for and what things don’t matter much?

I’m trying to choose a psychologist for a long-standing psychological/behavioral problem. I have already met two psychologists, but unfortunately neither was able to help me, so I want to be more careful before choosing the next one.

Since M.Phil in Clinical Psychology has been discontinued/replaced by newer RCI pathways, how important is the psychologist’s specific qualification/training route when choosing someone?

What factors should I prioritize?

• RCI registration
• Clinical Psychology qualification
• PhD
• Specific experience with my type of problem
• Specialized training/certifications
• Years of experience
• Research/publications
• Hospital/clinic affiliation
• Reviews/ratings
• Whether they use evidence-based therapies

And which of these are less important or shouldn’t influence the decision too much?

If you have experience choosing a psychologist, what would you personally check before booking the first session?

Any advice would be appreciated. #Psychology #ClinicalPsychology #Therapy #MentalHealth

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Is anyone here diagnosed with ADHD who also has sleep problems and takes mirtazapine for sleep?

If yes, what dosage of mirtazapine are you taking specifically for sleep, and how has it worked for you?

Did a lower dose (e.g., 7.5 mg or 15 mg) work, or did you need a higher dose?

Please share your experience if you're comfortable.

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If psychiatrists are also trained in psychology and psychotherapy, why do they refer patients to psychologists?

Is their psychology/therapy training minimal compared with clinical psychologists, or is it enough to provide therapy and completely replace a psychologist?

As I see some psychiatrist say they can provide therapy also they mention

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I’m wondering whether meditation is genuinely effective for reducing impulsivity, or whether the benefits are relatively small and sometimes just placebo.

For people who have actually practiced meditation consistently (for example, 20–60 minutes a day for several months):

Did you notice a real reduction in impulsive behavior?

Did you become better at stopping yourself before acting on an urge?

Does it help with strong or automatic urges, or mainly with mild everyday impulsivity?

Do the benefits continue as long as you keep meditating, or do they disappear when you stop?

Is meditation actually effective according to research, or is it somewhat overhyped?

I’d especially like to hear from people who have struggled with significant impulsivity rather than just general stress or anxiety.

Is meditation genuinely useful for this, or is it not that effective?

Before wasting time I wanna know from experts

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I’m curious about people who have actually completed a 10-day Vipassana course.

Did you experience meaningful, long-term benefits, or did the effects mostly feel like placebo and gradually disappear after returning home?

Also, if you continued practicing 1 hour of Vipassana meditation every day after the 10-day course, did the benefits remain, or did the benefits disappear despite continuing the practice?

I’d especially like to hear from people who have practiced consistently for several months or years—not just immediately after the 10-day retreat.

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I’ve seen many videos where people from Jharkhand say they left a Central Government job and chose a Jharkhand state government job mainly because they wanted a posting near their home.

Is home posting really the main advantage?

I’m also wondering about the benefits. From what I understand, Central Government employees have CGHS/medical facilities that can provide access to treatment in private hospitals under certain conditions.

Do Jharkhand state government employees get similarly good health insurance/medical coverage, especially for treatment in private hospitals?

For someone who already has a Central Government job, what are the actual advantages of switching to a Jharkhand state government job apart from staying near home?

Would appreciate insights from people who have experience with both.

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My testosterone level is around 600. My doctor initially did not want to prescribe clomiphene, but I kept requesting it because I wanted to try it for a rare condition that I can’t mention here because it’s debatable and not well proven.

I asked my doctor whether we could try clomiphene for 3 months just to see whether it helps. After discussing it repeatedly, my doctor finally agreed and prescribed it.

Now I’m worried about what happens after those 3 months.

If I take clomiphene for 3 months and then stop, will my testosterone eventually return to my natural level of around 600, or could it go below my previous natural level?

Also, what are the possible side effects of clomiphene, especially when used for 3 months?

I’d really appreciate experiences or medically informed opinions from people who have used clomiphene.

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Is anyone here currently studying, has studied, or has worked at NIMHANS? I have a few questions and would really appreciate some help. Please DM me if you can help.

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How do you choose the right psychologist for a complex, long-term problem?

What should I check—qualifications, specialization, actual experience, research/publications, treatment approach, and registration?

Also, what common mistakes should I avoid when choosing one?