How To Curb Horniness – 14 Simple Ways To Feel Less Horny

Sometimes intense arousal and near-constant horniness can get in the way of daily life. If you'd like to dial down your horniness, this 14-step guide will walk you through how.

But first, ask yourself a question…

Is Being Horny Actually Unhealthy?

Let's tackle the big question first. Is horniness itself a problem? Not really. Nearly everyone experiences horniness at some point, though some people find themselves feeling it more frequently than others.

Both biology and romantic connection shape when you do (and don't) feel horny. So if you feel confident, close with your partner, or you're at a particular point in your cycle, it's completely normal to notice you're hornier than usual.

Being single, of course, doesn't mean horniness disappears. Relationships simply tend to shift your libido one way or another.

Related: Tips on how to increase your sex drive.

If horniness on its own isn't the issue, can it still become one? You can probably guess the answer.

Yes.

Like any strong interest, if it starts interfering with your job, school, or relationships, or if it lands you in situations that put you at risk, that's your cue to address it.

We're not suggesting you become someone who feels entitled to sex from other people. This is about self-work, even if that means figuring out how to manage horniness in moments when you simply can't act on it. If that sounds like something worth bringing to a therapist, it's worth serious consideration.

Now, let's get into…

How to Curb Horniness

Below are 14 solid strategies for feeling less horny. Which one works best depends on how big a problem it is for you and your personal situation. For instance, if you've got an interview to prep for or a test to study for and keep getting distracted, these masturbation techniques for a quick release might be exactly the fix you need.

When it just won't quit – If horniness is seriously disrupting your life over the long haul, you'll need more drastic and lasting strategies to bring it down. In these ongoing cases, a medical or mental health professional may be your best bet for support.

Now let's get into the techniques for dialing down your horniness…

1. Have Sex

One of the more pleasurable ways to stop feeling horny is simply to have sex. Once your sexual needs are satisfied, it becomes far easier to concentrate on chores, homework, parenting, or whatever else needs your attention.

Granted, this won't work if the sex itself is unsatisfying — you might end up horny and frustrated. But if your partner's open to some guidance, start with this no-BS guide to having good sex or these tips to have better sex.

2. Masturbate

If you don't have a partner or the chance for sex, or if sex hasn't quite hit the spot, masturbating is a great way to take the edge off. In fact, getting yourself off can sometimes be quicker and simpler than involving a partner.

Need a refresher, or not sure where to start? Learning how to finger yourself and this guide to masturbation for women can help!

3. Avoid Sexual Stimulation

This might sound backwards given that the first two tips told you to stimulate yourself to feel less turned on. But for some people, sex only fuels a desire for more. If that describes you, it may be smarter to steer clear of sex altogether, especially when you've got other priorities.

4. Exercise

Exercise helps redirect blood flow away from your genitals and back through the rest of your body, which can ease physical horniness. Plenty of men say that working out — or even just flexing their muscles — helps get rid of unwanted boners.

Along similar lines, one study pointed to possible benefits of "acute lower-limb exercise for medication induced priapism" [1]. In other words, climbing stairs helped patients lose erections that weren't linked to arousal or desire at all. If it works there, it's certainly worth trying whenever you want to feel less horny!

Plus, concentrating on your routine takes your mind off wanting to curb your horniness in the first place.

5. Keep Busy

One piece of advice we won't give you for reducing horniness is simply "stop thinking about sex." That approach backfires almost every time. Trying hard not to think about something practically guarantees you will — the classic pink elephant problem.

Instead, throw yourself into something genuinely engaging. We don't mean busywork. Look for activities that truly capture — or demand — your focus. What can you lose yourself in for hours?

Before you realize it, time will have slipped by, and sex probably won't be on your mind. With any luck, your body will follow suit.

6. Shock Your System

When you need to curb horniness fast, sometimes a system shock does the trick. What does that mean? Jump into a cold shower or an ice bath to cool your arousal. You can also introduce a bit of discomfort — nothing that causes lasting harm, just enough to snap you out of that headspace.

7. Meditate

Meditation benefits a huge range of things, anxiety and stress among them. Modern mindfulness practice can even improve your sex life. But it's also a legitimate way to reduce horniness.

How can the same practice both help you get horny and help you stop feeling horny? Because meditation is about noticing your thoughts and letting them pass rather than clinging to them or feeding them more attention, which only strengthens their pull.

In this case, you simply acknowledge that your mind and body feel horny — and leave it there. Redirect your attention elsewhere and avoid getting frustrated about how horny you feel. Frustration will only amplify the fixation.

8. Spend Time With Others

It's a lot tougher to feel horny while sipping tea with your grandmother or chatting about the weather with your dad. It's not a guaranteed fix, but if the time you spend leads to engaging conversation or activity, you might find horniness slips your mind entirely.

Plus, feeling horny without a partner nearby can breed loneliness. So spending time with people might tackle both horniness and loneliness at once.

9. Minimize Stimulation In Your Environment

Chances are you can name a handful of things that get you going. Maybe it's the vibration of your motorcycle, certain ab exercises, a particular song, or your favorite movie. Even the way your jeans sit on your hips can do it. Even texting your partner can spark horniness.

Related: 100+ Sexting Examples

If you're not sure what's triggering your horniness, pay attention to what's happening in the moments you notice it. Once you spot a pattern, you can try limiting your exposure to those triggers, at least while you've got other priorities.

10. Focus on Your Mood Killers

It might sound like a cliché, but if you need a distraction from sex or a way to dial down horniness, certain thoughts really do the job. It's hard to stay horny while picturing moldy leftovers or thinking about politics, for instance.

And thanks to the internet, you can pull up images and videos of exactly these things whenever you need extra help staying un-horny.

11. Check Your Medications

While there's plenty of information out there about medications that dampen your sex life — from low libido to lack of lubrication to erectile dysfunction to trouble orgasming — some medications actually do the reverse. The reason you're wondering how to curb horniness might be sitting in your medicine cabinet.

If you've recently started a new medication or changed your dosage, that could be the culprit, even if it's typically known for killing sex drive (birth control is a classic example). If this is a real concern, talk to your doctor about alternatives or dosage adjustments so you can feel less horny and more like yourself.

12. Don't Forget About Other Drugs

Prescription medications aren't the only substances that can affect you here. Some people use recreational drugs specifically because they want heightened arousal or more enjoyable sex. Cocaine, methamphetamine, and ecstasy are all known to increase horniness [2]. So cutting back may be worthwhile if this has become an issue for you.

13. Talk to Your Doctor

Could an underlying condition be behind your horniness?

Absolutely.

Bipolar disorder, once referred to as manic depression, is a common example. People with bipolar disorder cycle through manic and depressive episodes. During mania, someone might engage in risky behavior, including drug use or sexual activity.

As one research paper puts it, "literature points to an increased incidence of risky sexual behaviors in bipolar patients during manic episodes compared to patients with other psychiatric diagnoses" [3].

If you have bipolar disorder, you might not necessarily feel extra horny — you may just struggle to rein in your sexual urges. Still, effective treatment can be key to curbing constant horniness and cutting down on risky behavior during manic episodes.

Bipolar disorder is a well-known example, but far from the only one. Persistent genital arousal disorder is another [4].

Hypersexuality can also show up as a symptom of borderline personality disorder, or BPD. Researchers note that "those with borderline personality disorder are more likely to exhibit greater sexual preoccupation" [5]. That's not inherently bad, but it can become a problem if it feels out of control.

Brain damage can also trigger horniness, reinforcing the idea that extreme horniness may be less about desire and more about the brain losing its ability to follow social norms. Patients with degenerative brain conditions like Alzheimer's and dementia, for example, sometimes display hypersexual behavior [6, 7]. Physical trauma may play a role as well.

Unfortunately, brain damage isn't always reversible. But if you're trying to figure out how to feel less horny, your doctor might suggest medication or surgical options that help.

And if there's no underlying condition at play, your doctor might prescribe medication to lower your sex drive directly.

Keep in mind that doctors don't always bring up sex first. Sadly, medical training doesn't cover sexuality as thoroughly as it should. Physicians may not know how to broach sexual issues, or they might treat sexual side effects as minor, especially if what you're describing is wanting to feel less horny.

14. Check Your Meal Plan

Finally, think about how your diet shapes your libido. Certain foods act as aphrodisiacs — meaning they're known to boost horniness.

Read More: The 15 Best Aphrodisiacs Backed up By Science

Most people look into aphrodisiacs because they want to feel more turned on. But if you've been unknowingly eating a lot of these foods, cutting back or eliminating them could help curb constant horniness. It might sting a little if you love artichokes or chili peppers, but the trade-off could be worth it if you're trying to dial down the horniness.

That covers 14 techniques for curbing horniness. But keep this in mind…

There's nothing wrong with feeling horny now and then. As long as it's not disrupting your life, the better move might be embracing your sexuality rather than trying to suppress it.

April 18, 2022