It is a question that few people are brave enough to ask out loud, yet it crosses almost everyone’s mind at some point: Can masturbation actually feel better than having sex? The short, honest answer is: yes, absolutely. It really depends entirely on the individual, and it is a deeply personal feeling. Sometimes people prefer masturbation, sometimes they prefer partnered sex, and others bounce back and forth between the two depending on the exact mood they are in.

It is one of the most common, yet deeply misunderstood dilemmas in modern relationships: we are told that sex is the ultimate stress reliever, yet for millions of people, the literal thought of intimacy brings a heavy wave of anxiety. In my practice as a somatic intimacy and relationship coach, I see clients every single day who are trapped in a exhausting loop. They love their partners deeply, but the moment things begin moving toward the bedroom, their heart rate spikes, t