i am 11 and a am scared i like to watch porn but i am scared because no one else dose and i feel ike i need to stop cos its for 18 and over so i want help so i can stop masterbaiting and i want to get some help thanks sam
from m
Hi M,
Exploring your sexual feelings is an important part of growing up. For some young people that can be about trying out masturbation and porn. Many young people start to wonder if this is something they should be doing so its really positive you are asking for some support. Knowing the facts can help you to make a decision thats right for you.
Although a lot of young people watch porn, there are important reasons why it is made for adults over the age of 18. Pornography can sometimes be quite shocking or upsetting for younger people. Porn can sometimes be a young person's first experience of sex, so it can have an impact on what they see as normal.
Pornography often doesn't show what real sex and relationships are like so it is important to understand how porn can be different from real life. If you do decide to watch porn, it can sometimes have an impact on how you feel about yourself, what you might expect from your future partners in terms of what they look like and communicating about sex, and what you expect from sex. Many people see porn as a fantasy which is separate from the sex they may have in real life which can help them to have a healthy relationship with their partner.
Although it can feel that you are the only one masturbating and watching porn, it is something young people talk about on the ChildLine message boards, and is something that both boys and girls talk about. You may find it helpful to read about other peoples experiences and see if there is any advice about giving up or cutting down. If you are finding that porn and masturbating are on your mind a lot, you may find it helpful to try some new hobbies or interests. It could help to think about things you enjoy doing that could help to distract you from porn.
Although some people may feel guilty about masturbating, its something many people do and is perfectly natural. If you do decide that you would like to masturbate, this is your decision and its not something you should feel guilty about.
If you do feel you want to stop, it can be helpful to think about what makes you want to stop. It can help to talk through your worries with someone you trust, this might be someone in your life. However this can sometimes feel embarrassing so you are welcome to talk to someone at ChildLine to get the support you need.
Take care
Sam
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