Addiction to Vibrators
Let's start by understanding addiction. Addiction isn't just a preference for something. It's a physiological response to something's presence, and addiction manifests as withdrawal when that thing is no longer available to you. That just doesn't apply to vibrator use (and most doctors don't even think that sex addiction is a real thing).
Instead, what people really mean when they talk about vibrator addiction is can you get to used to using a sex toy that you can't experience pleasure or orgasm from any other method. The answer to this question isn't as cut and dry, but it is far from a negative prognosis.
It's absolutely possible to get used to masturbating a certain way or with a specific item, and this isn't limited to vibrators. Guys can rely on their iron grip so much during masturbation that they find oral sex too soft to orgasm. Women who rub their clits ferociously might experience difficulty orgasming from a lover's lighter touch.
So it's reasonable that you can get used to the rumbling of a vibrator, which is unlike anything your hand or a lover's body part can replicate. The sensations are mechanical and strong, an intensity that is unmatched by a warm body. But while your body might become used to those sensations, it's not losing sensitivity.
Retraining Your Body
There's no cause for alarm, however. You may have trained your body to experience pleasure in a certain way, but you can train it to be more receptive to masturbating without a vibrator. It takes time and will power.
The first method is to simply switch up how you masturbate. Leave your vibrator in the drawer, and use your hand, instead. You may not orgasm the first few times, so simply set a timer. Relax and enjoy. Eventually, you may find yourself having orgasms without the aid of your vibrator. But you'll have to do without until you get to that point.
Some people schedule regular vibrator breaks to ensure their bodies don't come to rely on the sex toys. You might only use your vibrator every other masturbation session. You might realize that while your vibrator finds a more consistent orgasm that takes less time, it can be fun to take your time and enjoy the journey.
Alternatively, you can simply turn down your vibrator and get used to masturbating on a lower level. Moving your vibe differently than you're used to can help, as can placing a sheet between your toy and your body or leaving your underwear on during your solo sexy time.
Or you can pair your vibrator with another toy or even a partner during sex. When you are able to orgasm with both sensations, it can become easier to orgasm once you remove your vibrator.
Should You Ditch Your Vibe?
But you shouldn't think that you have to stop using your vibrator as long as you like it and it works for you. Some people reach for a vibrator because they've never experienced orgasm before or because it greatly reduces the amount of time and effort required to have an orgasm. There's no reason why you shouldn't keep using your favorite vibrator if you fall into this group.
Really, there's no reason for someone not to use a vibrator unless they want to change things up. If the motivation to use your vibrator less comes from a partner who thinks you shouldn't use it, it's probably due to them feeling insecure. If you use it for masturbation, your partner may wonder why you masturbate at all. They may worry that you don't need them as long as you have a vibrator. Partners can shame you for using a vibrator. But a sex toy is just an item while a sexual partner is a person with whom you can share a deep and sexy connection.
Plus, using sex toys together can be quite fun! Shopping for a toy with your partner might be a good way to introduce a partner to a vibrator rather than pulling out Ol' Reliable from the nightstand during your first roll in the hay. It can be intimidating for a new partner to come face to face with something that has been giving you orgasms for potentially years.
But if you and your partner can't come to an agreement about a vibrator, your best course of action might be to keep the toy and find a partner who can get down with the way you get off. Your pleasure should take a higher priority than someone's ego.
In the end, an orgasm is an orgasm. One isn't lesser than the other because of the body part you were stimulating or how you achieved it. We certainly wouldn't tell someone who can only orgasm with the assistance of their vibrator is having an orgasm that is anything less than awesome.
By: Adriana Ravenlust
Follow on Twitter @adriana_r
