Orgasms are important for our health. No, we mean it, they really are. And when it comes to achieving the sometimes elusive “O,” one of the best options happens to be through masturbation. Self-pleasure is just as important as achieving satisfaction with a partner. Whether you use copulation toys or go all natural with your pleasure, masturbation really is an important part of our routine.
And according to research published via Planned Parenthood, it turns out that among the health benefits of masturbation are a reduction in stress, depression, and anxiety. There are a lot of reasons to masturbate, from relaxation to learning our own bodies and what makes us feel good. But, the fact that it is also good for our health should definitely factor into our decision to find satisfaction as a party of one.
If you are wondering what it is about masturbation that helps in reducing our anxiety and helps combat depression, we can answer that.
Connect with yourself
When we masturbate, we end up establishing a better connection with ourselves. We become more mindful of our bodies and so much more, including the way we feel, the breaths that we are taking, and even our personal interactions. Masturbation allows you to quiet your thinking and allow you a chance to let loose, relax, and find a sense of peace that is necessary to temper your anxieties.
And if you have ever struggled to find a sense of calm and peace, then masturbation may be the key. Not only will it help you focus, but being able to connect with yourself is critical to positive mental health.
Connecting with your body
Beyond connecting with yourself mentally, masturbation allows you to connect with your body as a whole. And what mental health professionals have determined is that if you feel disconnected from yourself physically, then there may also be a disconnect mentally. Basically, the goal is to have a connection of the mind, body, and soul, and while you may think that this is a lofty goal to place on the shoulders of self-pleasure, the reality is that by masturbating, you are actually honoring yourself.
Think about self-pleasure as a way to practice self-care. And we all know that self-care is important for our overall health. So, when we opt to masturbate, we are practicing self-care at its very base level. And of course, when we connect with our body, we end up connecting on a much deeper level.
Feel good chemicals are released
Unsurprisingly, when we masturbate it feels good, but that’s not all. When we pleasure ourselves, our body releases what are often referred to as feel good chemicals, oxytocin and dopamine. These chemicals actually help fight against depression and anxiety, which is exactly what we are trying to do.
So beyond allowing us to connect our mind and body, masturbation also gives us the chemicals we need for mental health. And that is an added bonus that we can’t help but appreciate.
Let’s talk empowerment
Masturbation is very empowering. And while we know that empowerment isn’t going to eliminate things like anxiety or depression, that doesn’t mean it is not good for your overall mental health. Being empowered can give you a sense of strength when you least expect it.
Think of empowerment as inspiration for other areas of your life. It is about growing your self-confidence and your faith in yourself. But that’s not all, as it is also a way for you to realize that you are strong and independent. And it is amazing how that can change your perspective on life and the things that come your way.
Conclusion
Think about masturbation as a way to essentially reclaim your personal power. When you masturbate, you learn more about yourself in many ways and that is important in so many areas of your life. And sure, self-pleasure may not be a sure-fire cure for what ails you, but it can certainly help when it comes to understanding things like what you need out of life or even giving you the strength to handle different problems as they come about. The thing is that most things in life are temporary, and self-care goes a long way in allowing us to appreciate the good over the bad and let the negative go.