A question about sexual urges and Islam

A fellow Muslim named blackjacketgr8 asked this question: 

Starting ramzan I haven't masturbated. I haven't heard online any single direct scripture telling of masturbation is haram. I wanted to ask if it was okay to masturbate ( after ramzan even) because not masturbating awfully effects my life. I easily get distracted because I haven't been relieved and am sexually tense. I keep remembering haram thoughts and getting distracted during basic tasks or even during salat. When I do masturbate I do it maybe once a week and it helps me stay focused and not get distracted all the time and think haram thoughts during salat or just basic daily life. Can you give me any advise. Also I pray 4-5 times and keep trying to fight it,but there is an easy fix. If I don't watch any adult content while I masturbate eleminating that sin to I just would be masturbating to get a normal life. I've also tried removing things from my life which distract me but some things like socializing TV or mobile or just doing my job with other colleagues is difficult. Lastly it's not that I don't have control over myself, it's just that I think if it isn't haram and it makes my personal /spiritual /work life better I should do it as little as possible when required

The answer was:

Like any addiction, the body will go through a difficult period/withdrawal after quitting. After a while it can re-adjust itself. Of course many relapse during this period, but it's not impossible to succeed, especially after giving up the sources of excitement (e.g. pornography)
The body will then resume its natural course, using nocturnal emissions (wet dreams) as a substitute.
Fasting weakens the sexual urges, so it's prescribed for those who can't get married.
When all this fails, there is a minority opinion that masturbation (as a minor sin, don't believe the weak narrations about it being a Kabira/major sin) can become the lesser of two evils in some situations.
Also, the evidence for it being haram is Sura 23:8, and 70:31
"those, who go beyond this (in lust for sexual desires), shall be transgressors".
And in general, it's better to do the bad thing while admitting its a sin, than to try to find a way to "halalize" it, convincing yourself it's halal.