{"id":6851,"date":"2023-12-05T03:19:28","date_gmt":"2023-12-05T03:19:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fitolympia.com\/?p=6851"},"modified":"2023-12-05T03:25:51","modified_gmt":"2023-12-05T03:25:51","slug":"5-ways-masturbation-can-help-your-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fitolympia.com\/na\/5-ways-masturbation-can-help-your-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Ways Masturbation Can Help Your Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Masturbation helps you learn what you like sexually, plus, it just feels good. But did you know that masturbation can help your mental health, too? While masturbation alone isn\u2019t an effective treatment for any mental health condition, it can relieve some symptoms, such as stress and difficulty sleeping. “Orgasms are truly amazing things,” Vanessa Marin, sex therapist and creator of Finishing School: Learn How To Orgasm<\/a>, previously told Refinery29. \u201c[But] if you have any real concerns about your mental health, you’re better suited talking to a therapist and coming up with a more comprehensive care plan. [Masturbation won\u2019t] obliterate crippling depression.\u201dIn other words, masturbation shouldn\u2019t be the only item on your mental health treatment plan \u2014 it\u2019s not a cure-all. But here\u2019s what it can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How masturbation affects your brain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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When you masturbate, your body releases a number of “feel-good” hormones called endorphins, and although studies differ on exactly how<\/em>, research indicates that it also affects the prefrontal cortex of your brain<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does masturbation affect my mood?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Masturbation makes you feel good \u2014 and we\u2019re not just talking about the physical pleasure. When your body releases endorphins, you feel a temporary mood boost, too. According to Psychology Today<\/em><\/a>, you can thank dopamine and oxytocin in particular for the feelings of high spirits and satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can masturbation relieve stress and anxiety?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Studies show that the presence of oxytocin<\/a> lowers the levels of another hormone \u2014 cortisol, which is associated with high stress. Some people find that masturbation\u2019s stress-fighting effects also work for managing anxiety.  \u201cAfter an orgasm, I am also much calmer, and I’ve found that it’s actually a fantastic way to stimulate the brain,\u201d one woman wrote for Refinery29.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does masturbation help with depression?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Anecdotally, some people with depression<\/a> say that the mood boost provided by masturbation can temporarily alleviate their symptoms, but this hasn’t been sufficiently studied yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can masturbation help you fall asleep?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Oxytocin, along with prolactin, another hormone released during masturbation, makes you feel relaxed<\/a>, so masturbation can be an all-natural sleep aid. A German health insurance company even released an ad promoting masturbation<\/a> as a way to get a good night\u2019s sleep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can masturbation help your self-esteem?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

According to Planned Parenthood<\/a>, masturbation can help improve your body image and self-esteem. This makes sense: masturbation is a great way to get to know your body better and appreciate all that it can do.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Masturbation helps you learn what you like sexually, plus, it just feels good. But did you know that masturbation can help your 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