Sexologist, intimacy consultant, and writer Tiffany Chan, Ed.D., is reclaiming the conversation around solo sexuality in her latest piece for Artistic Edge, “Touch Thyself, Heal Thyself – In Honor of Masturbation May”.
To celebrate the season, Chan invites readers to see self-pleasure not as a taboo or indulgence, but as a radical act of wellness, connection and healing. “Masturbation isn’t a substitute for intimacy. It is intimacy,” Chan writes. “With yourself. With your fantasies. With your own electric hum of aliveness.”
Chan blends science, personal insight and cultural history to challenge stigma and reframe self-touch as a vital form of body literacy and empowerment. “Think of it as a neurological spa appointment with no commute,” she writes, explaining how solo pleasure triggers a powerful cascade of neurochemicals – including dopamine, oxytocin and endorphins – that regulate stress, improve sleep and boost mood.
But Chan goes deeper, framing masturbation as a tool of self-awareness, confidence and post-trauma reclamation. “Touch can bring you back into your skin after dissociation,” she writes. “It says: I deserve to feel good in this body.”
From the concept of “erotic intelligence” to reclaiming pleasure in the face of shame, Chan’s article calls for readers to embrace solo sexuality with curiosity and pride. “Every orgasm is a protest against shame,” she writes. “A love letter to the body you live in.”
With a voice that’s both insightful and deeply personal, “Touch Thyself, Heal Thyself” delivers a bold, clear message about the power of pleasure. As Chan puts it, “Pleasure is power, darling. How will you wield yours?”
Read the full Artistic Edge article here.
