How Your Sex Life Affects Your Mental Health?

A healthy sex life leads to increased mental health. It’s not a myth and not just wishful thinking, it’s been proven that sex vastly improves your mood and promotes the production of feel-good chemicals in the body, such as dopamine, endorphins and oxytocin.

As if you need any more reasons in which to have a good roll in the hay or romp in the bedroom! Several studies, including one done as recently as 2020, show that sexual activity could be an effective defense against psychological distress and even depression.

So, intimacy and sex, be it intercourse, oral sex or masturbation, are as essential to your physical and psychological well-being as is sating your hunger or quenching your thirst. And what’s more, sexual activity is also a great way to strengthen your relationship.

Not convinced of the benefits of sex? Read on.

Regular Sex Translates into Relationship Satisfaction

Sexless relationships are more common than you might think. A recent survey revealed that 29% of the respondents had no sex or sex less than 10 times in the past year. The lack of intimacy and regular sex can lead to the satisfaction levels in the relationship plummeting fast, while also affecting your state of mind.

It may even show up as depression in one or both partners, with common symptoms including disturbed sleep, irritability, panic attacks and more. Couples who become sexually intimate on a regular basis often report greater levels of happiness and mutual satisfaction in a relationship. Among men, orgasms induces drowsiness by helping release the hormone prolactin, besides exhausting the body’s muscles, both of which aid in better sleep and, therefore, reduced stress.

And you don’t even need to have sex every day to experience its benefits. Even once a week is good enough, studies show. Just imagine if cuddling or kissing can trigger the release of the happy trinity of brain chemicals (dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin), what would a hot round of mutual masturbation or an unanticipated quickie on the couch do?

The idea is to keep it interesting and keep trying new ideas. Why not mix things up and book a session with a web cammer? You could even consider groupies or online sessions for couples. New experiences can keep the spark alive in your relationship.

It Improves Your Ability to Feel and Express Emotions

Sex helps you open up to emotions that you might never have acknowledged before. Intimacy is a process of understanding your physical needs and finding the right ways to fulfil them, with or without a partner. You learn to communicate about what you like in bed and how often you’d like to have sex. You also listen to what your partner likes and work to fulfill their desires. Research shows that all this improves brain function, including memory. Acknowledging and communicating emotions is also important for higher self-awareness, which helps you identify and respond appropriately to emotions.

Studies have found that sex helps men process emotions, such as pain and warmth, better. For women, good sex helps bring about feelings of emotional safety, which is important both for healthy relationships and mental well-being. If you’re not in a relationship, it’s worthwhile considering the services of a professional escort or web cammer every once in a while.

Active Sex Life Boosts Self-Esteem and Social Interactions

Many people live with body image issues and constantly doubt their desirability. This can create negative emotional patterns, which then takes a toll on mental health. Sex can help you realise your own unique appeal. When you see that your partner finds you attractive and is aroused by you, it can be a very positive experience. You might even realise that you don’t need to fulfill warped societal norms of body shape to have a fulfilling relationship. Such positive affirmations have a direct impact on improving mental health.

Orgasming triggers the release of oxytocin, the happy hormone that helps you feel more connected to people, while reducing anxiety. Even foreplay can get the positivity flowing, as you see your partner get aroused and they are able to arouse you. If not through a relationship, you can always find a safe space to express yourself virtually on web cam or have a good time with a high-class escort.

Masturbation and Mental Health

Fortunately, you don’t always need a partner to harness the benefits of sex. You can pleasure yourself not only to have an orgasm but understand your body’s responses and erogenous zones better. You can also get on a camming site as a performer or client for an immersive masturbatory experience.

Here’s how self-pleasure adds to positive mental health:

1. It helps you understand your likes, dislikes and desires, allowing better communication between partners about what constitutes great sex for both. Even on its own, masturbation can help reach optimum sexual satisfaction.
2. Masturbation can be a great way to work on delaying orgasms in order to experience greater heights of pleasure. You can achieve this by practicing edging and kegels, both of which help avoid premature ejaculation and facilitate more powerful orgasms.
3. Performing on cam or mutual stimulation can be an empowering way to masturbate and gradually feel more comfortable with being intimate with your sex partner. This can boost your self-esteem and body image.
4. To further heighten the benefits of masturbation for mental health, consider investing in sex toys. These toys can help you fulfil very specific needs that may not be met with a partner or basic masturbation. Whether you need a better penetrative experience or just focused stimulation of the prostrate or clitoris, you can almost always trust a battery-powered gadget to do the trick!
5. A healthy, self-pleasure routine can also work wonders for your stress levels. Studies have revealed that women often report greater relief from menstrual pain and cramps with masturbation than they do with medication.

The Bottom Line

Did you know regular sex can offer even more benefits, in the form of heart and prostate health? It also boosts immunity and helps with sound sleep, both of which are crucial to physical and mental well-being. So, whether you are in a relationship or not, make sure to find time for some highly pleasurable and satisfying sex every week.