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Self-help
2. Healthy sexual behaviours

Healthy sexual behavior encompasses a wide range of activities, including masturbation, sexual interaction and the use of sexual materials (like pornography), all of which can be part of a balanced and healthy sexual life when approached mindfully, respectfully and with consent. Here’s a breakdown of how various forms of sexual behavior can be healthy, differentiated from problematic and harmful behavior and how to ensure your behavior remains positive and respectful.

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Masturbation

Masturbation is a natural and healthy way for individuals to explore their own bodies, understand their sexual fantasies and desires, and experience sexual pleasure. It can be a form of self-care and a healthy sexual outlet. Some people would masturbate only while using stimulating material (pornography). When we are talking about masturbation, we generally refer to masturbation without any material.

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    What makes masturbation enjoyable and healthy?

Using Sexually Arousing Materials (e.g. Pornography)

The use of sexual materials like pornography or erotic literature can be a part of many people’s sexual exploration. However, it is essential to approach these materials with a balanced and mindful attitude to avoid sexual depictions of children, violence or other harmful situations for the depicted individuals.

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    What makes the use of sexual materials enjoyable and healthy?

     

Engaging in intimate Relationships

For people attracted to children, it can be really pressuring to be expected to be in a relationship with an adult, either by your social surroundings or by your own expectations. Relax, it’s absolutely alright to not be in a relationship, although it’s often the assumed societal standard. Intimacy is largely about trust and being close to other people, not just about having sex with someone. There is a number of opportunities to fulfill your needs for intimacy by taking care of your social network, friends, family, even colleagues or people you share common interests with.

If you are in an intimate relationship, sexual activities in relationships can be central aspect of well-being but it works without as well. Relationships should always involve mutual respect, consent, and clear communication.

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    What makes sexual relationships healthy?

Engaging in Casual Sex 

(Ethical Non-Monogamy, Open Relationships)

For some people, exploring sex outside traditional monogamous relationships is a part of their sexual expression. This can be healthy if approached with care, transparency, and respect.

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    What makes casual sex healthy?

Signs of Unhealthy Sexual Behavior to Avoid

Problematic behavior is when someone acts in a way that goes against social rules about sex. This could happen even if the person is not punished for it. A sexual behavior is considered a problem if it harms someone else or if the other person hasn’t agreed to it. For example, if someone secretly watches another person having sex or touching themselves, without their knowledge, that’s a serious problem because the person being watched can’t give their permission.

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    What is unhealthy sexual behavior?

Sexual activities involving children

Remember: Masturbating to sexual fantasies about children is not a problematic sexual behaviour. However, sexual activities with a child constitutes problematic sexual behaviour and occurs as a direct result of a conscious decision made by an adult. Harmful sexual behaviours involving children include (but are not limited to) the following sexual activities:

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    Harmful sexual behavior involving children

The use and classification of child sexual abuse material (child pornography)

Child sexual abuse material used for sexual stimulation is classified qualitatively in categories of severity. There is no “safe category.” Although an image may be produced under non-abusive conditions, the depicted child is unable to give consent to the use of his or her image for the purpose of sexual arousal. The individual choosing to look at the image is responsible for his or her own actions and for the consequences to the portrayed child:

Even legal materials have to be treated with a thoughtful decision whether it would be harm- or helpful or not to use them for sexual arousal.

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    Here is an overview of the classification of severity of images of children:

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    Wrapping up: General Rules for Engaging in Healthy Sexual Behavior

Healthy sexual behavior, in all its diverse forms—including masturbation, the use of sexual materials, and engaging in sexual relationships—should prioritize mutual respect, consent, communication, and safety. To ensure you're engaging in healthy sexual behavior, regularly check in with yourself and your partners, be mindful about the materials you watch or share, educate yourself about sexual health, and maintain a balance that respects both your needs and those of others. It is important to understand and remember that sexual activities are most enjoyable when all involved parties agree to what they are doing and no harm is inflicted.

 

 

 

 

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