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I personally don't think you should consider Masterbation "bad for you", as you put it... it's nothing to be ashamed about, and there is nothing unhealthy about doing it. it's perfectly normal, and perfectly healthy. in fact, many could argue that it's good for you.

now, that said, I also understand that it's not something for everyone. it's something that you can choose to do or not to do. even if you want to do it, doesn't mean you want to want to do it. see what I mean? you obviously fall into the latter category.

my question to you is, do you want to stop because you are ashamed of it? or just because you'd rather exercise personal self-restraint for the sake of restraint? is it something that you are being taught is wrong? or something you just want to prove to yourself you can control?

see, I can understand being upset that you broke our hymen already. that can be upsetting to realize, the same as it can be upsetting the first time you have sex with someone (leastways for some girls. there are those who are glad for it, either because it means less pain, or just because they think they have "experience"). clearly, you would want to have had the satisfaction of being "whole" and "untouched" for your first time, particularly if you are wanting your first time to be with someone you realy love deeply. it's like tha gift you can give them, that they get to "break it".

but what's done is done, and you needn't feel ashamed of that. it is ok to have inserted, to stimulate yourself. it is a natural thing to want to experience pleasure, and the only people who would be angry at you for it are those who want you to follow their rules, not your own. who want you to submit to them completely. to be who they want you to be. you need to be You, not their you. your You.

I'm not very good at dealing with it myself. I'm a Hedonist, and I'm gonna Masterbate and have Sex and do whatever the ******** else I wanna do. but I do care about people, and I won't be inconsiderate. that means that sometimes I have to find a way to restrain myself. I have been smoking alot more since my Sex-life dropped down so dramatically, but I'm out of cigars now too. so I find yet more ways to destress.

my habits are not the ones you are looking for, as I will find alternatives all the time, which are based on either getting that adrenaline rush, or forcing it back with controlled substances. however, I have advice for you that I have tried and personally on't prefer using. one that is actually very effective.

Yoga. Yoga exercises are very relaxing, and very fulfilling. you can beat back any excitement and urge by practicing Yoga. you'll enjoy it, and it will make you feel at ease. ^_^ I took it for my bad leg, but found that it changed alot in my life.

as for the Knuckle-Popping, I'd have to agree 100% with BrokenJanders. I couldn't have said it better myself, Janders has it down exactly correct.

Oh, I know it's not a contributor to arthritis. I read a few articles about it when i had to do a research paper on the subject last year. It's bad in ways, though. Minor ways, but still is bad none the less. I mean, I already know it's taken a small toll, I've been doing it since I was 9 or 10 and my joints don't feel quite right, mainly in my left hand.

I mainly was looking for a way to lessen doing it because as I said, I just do it without thinking about it. It seems a bit involuntary now, even though I know it's not. Know any ways to control it a bit? You seem smart. x3

Oh, I know it's not bad for you. I just don't like it. Me being taught it's "wrong" isn't the reason why I don't like doing it. I like the feeling of orgasm, but after doing it so many times in a week, the feels get weaker & weaker, but I still do it.

I basically want to be able to 'control the urge', and do it much less often, mainly once a week or two.

And yes, the hymen part worries me because not many guys I know would take "I broke it myself" as an excuse, and would assume I've had sex before.

& yoga doesn't really sound like something I'd do. I'm not very flexible, like, if I'm sitting, I can't touch my toes or anything, but in other ways I'm very flexible. But, I'll give it a try. i don't have money to buy yoga videos, so do you have any youtube/website recommendations?

hah, well, I'm shy & stuff, so I'd be able to do it a lot better in the privacy of my own room.

Personally, I feel that nothing you stated is wrong or bad. I too am a habitual joint-cracker and crack my knuckles and neck almost ritually every morning. I'm glad BrokenJanders explained that there isn't risk for arthritis from it. Your joints may feel odd now partially because you're still young and your bones are still growing, so the constant knuckle-cracking might be affecting it in a minor way. I would advise maybe a small form of aversion therapy? Like cutters do you could wear a rubber band and every time you crack your knuckles snap it for every joint you cracked or something to the effect. I am not suggesting you cause yourself bodily harm in any way! But gradually over time you'll just get the urge to crack your joints instead of just doing it, and then you'll be able to avoid it all together. I managed to go 7 months without cracking my joints after a New Year's resolution by doing something of similar effect. It was only after waking up with my neck cramped that I needed to crack it in order to relieve the stress and started the habit again. It's also going to be my New Year's resolution again smile

As for the masturbation. I couldn't tell you really how to avoid doing that. The idea of chronic masturbation is because of endorphins (Chemicals in the brain that cause the feeling of pleasure) to be released much like getting high, or what adrenaline junkies feel. Simply put it's an addiction and you should face it as such. First by trying to minimize the amount of times you partake in the act, then hopefully finding something to replace it you find i guess less demeaning? (Not that you need to be ashamed at all, it is perfectly heathy) Or trying to fill your day more so you don't have the free time available to masturbate. I really don't know for that one.

I hope this helps.

Well, I don't know if I can tell you much to really do to help yourself. When I started masturbating, it was to rebel against my parents. I did it for about a year, then when it all began to be less pleasuring, I just willed myself to stop. I can tell you, when I actually had sex with someone, it still felt amazing.
As for cracking my knuckles, I started in first grade and haven't stopped since, and I've had no problem with it. So I can't really give advice on that one.