Let’s Talk about SEX! Mental health benefits of sex

When it comes to protect our mental health, we focus on exercise, meditation, self-care, being mindful, eating healthy food, engaging in activities which gives pleasure and many more things which helps us to improve our mental health. Today we will be talking one of those activities which does give immense pleasure and that is SEX. Sex might not be a cure to everything (although I wish it was), but it can have a huge positive effect on our physical and mental health! In reality, with research to prove it, sex actually has several positive effects on overall health!
Sex and sexuality are part and parcel of life. Sex may be about affection and enjoyment, aside from reproduction but can offer many surprising benefits to different aspects of our  life. Let’s see some benefits of sex.SEX REDUCES STRESS
logical factors that interfere and may impact different individuals in various ways, possibly triggering health issues including minor headaches, sleeping disturbances, and muscle tension to more serious disorders such as depression and immune system failure. There is evidence to indicate that sex will alleviate stress and relieve anxiety to be close to your partner (physically and emotionally) Isn’t it a Jackpot? Wow! Sex is not a “cure” for anxiety or depression, but symptoms of all mental health conditions can be temporarily diminished by feel good hormones and chemicals released during sex. These include dopamine (plays role in reward motivation behaviour), endorphins (natural pains and stress fighters), and oxytocin (known as cuddle hormone) that can increase mood, increase compassion, and help your partner bond with you.

Also, the level of cortisol, the main stress hormone, decreases with sex, while the levels of these above chemicals increase with sex. Hence more the sex, less the stress!
In fact, one study found that having sex for two weeks every day led to cell growth in the hippocampus (which plays a role in controlling levels of stress). Another research showed that having sex for a span of two weeks at least once a day reduced blood pressure due to stress.

SEX(ERCISE) HELPS US SLEEP
It is important for both mental health and physical health to get enough sleep. Just think about how grouchy we are when we’re deprived of sleep, and when we’re well rested, how much better we feel! So, if you normally have trouble sleeping, try Sex before you go to bed. During an orgasm, the body releases oxytocin, also called the’ love’ or’ intimacy’ hormone, and endorphins. Combination of these hormones might function as sedation. Better sleep will lead to: A more powerful immune system, A greater lifespan, more well-rested feeling and Getting more energy throughout the day. These released hormones make us feel more comfortable and ready to sleep. Also, during an orgasm, the prolactin hormone is released, which makes us even sleepier.
A healthy sex life will help us sleep better, which in turn can further enhance our sex life. An interdependent relationship is genuinely shared by sex and sleep.
A study of 460 people between the ages of 18 and 70 questioned participants about their sex life and sleeping habits.
After experiencing an orgasm shortly before bed, some 64 percent of respondents said they slept much better, possibly due to the release of oxytocin and other endorphins that accompany orgasms.

SEX MAKES US STRONG
One of the research findings concluded that people who had regular sex (one to two times a week) had more immunoglobulin A (IgA) in their saliva in those individuals. And people who had rare sex (less than once a week) had slightly less IgA in their Saliva. IgA is the first line of protection against human papillomavirus, or HPV, is the antibody that plays a part in disease prevention. Basically, immunoglobulin fights against viruses and boosts your immunity. Plus, the heart rate, blood pressure and circulation are ideal for daily sexual activity. Such techniques keep the body clean and release toxins and bottled up stress in the body. Infact in today’s time, Counsellors and psychologists have been encouraging their clients to limit their media consumption and suggest engaging in mindful sex acts alone or with partners. Mindful sex is the type of sex where you are focused on enjoying pleasure and less concerned with results or achieving an end goal (having an orgasm, for example). At its heart, mindful sex includes unwinding and being with your partner at the moment. Mindful sex during COVID may be a perfect approach to handling pandemic tension with some calming music while at the same time improving the immune system to battle current COVID situations.SEX BOOSTS OUR SELF-ESTEEM
There’s a saying that “sex is like food, that it’s only a big deal when you’re not get enough of it.” Sex is a simple socio-emotional trait, and if we don’t get it when and how we want it. It can lead to a lot of anxiety, self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy. It’s not a coincidence that because of an inability to satisfy the sexual needs of each other, many partnerships and even marriages fall apart. It is closely tied to our personalities and feelings of self-worth.
Sex can achieve several different experiences to individuals. We not only experience physical pleasure, but it adds to our sense of worth, appearance, and attractiveness. As our blood and hormones flow through our bodies, we feel alive and strong. Frequent sexual activity will make us look younger, whether it is with a partner or alone. The production of estrogen during sex is partly due to this.
Having sex needs a degree of trust, but you know what, sex may return the favour as well. According to the research from the University of Texas, having sex can also help improve self-confidence and build a better positive outlook about yourself. Generally, individuals with high self-esteem feel better about themselves and about life. It makes them much more resilient, and better able to deal and cope with the complexities of life.

SEX MAKES US SMART
In a number of ways, sex affects our brain chemistry, and one of them is increasing our brain capacity. There is some evidence that sex actually improves our cognitive ability: a study published in the personality and social Psychology Bulletin found that it can boost analytical abilities simply by thinking about a sexual experience you have had. Another research on rats found that sexually active rodents had more neurons in their hippocampus (the brain area responsible for memory storage) than virgin rats, and after sexual activity ended, rats lost improvements in brain strength. Female orgasm research using fMRI technology has shown that as many as 30 regions of the brain are triggered by sexual climax. Blood flows in, bringing to the brain cells a flood of nutrients and oxygen.
Frequent sex protects our brains from stress hormones (called corticosterone) that trigger these negative emotions, according to a study. It seems that sex not only stimulates the development of neurons, it also releases hormones aimed at reducing levels of corticosterone.
Scientists compared the learning and memory of mice in one brain science study and found that those who had sex also had stronger memory function recognition. In another study of 1,700 individuals between the ages of 58 and 98, researchers reported a clear correlation between those who had active sex lives and better memory recall. By now, all of us have learned that puzzles are fantastic for keeping our minds sharp. Scientists from Rutgers claim that orgasms can be even more important in preserving our cognitive wellbeing. After investigating brain MRIs of subjects taken during orgasm, scientists arrived at this conclusion. Although brain games light up only portions of our grey matter, the entire brain is triggered at once by gratifying sex.SOME TAKEWAYS

1. Sex can reduce minor headaches as well as relieve symptoms of severe disorders like depression and anxiety. Now we can definitely call Sex as Natural Anti-depressant! Sex hormone known as cortisol reduces with increase in sexual activity.
2. Sex is like an exercise. Hormones like Oxytocin and Prolactin secreted during sex and orgasm together function as sedation and makes us sleepier. Hence, a healthy sex life makes us sleep better.
3. Sex makes our immune system strong. Immunoglobin (IgA) is an antibody present in saliva that fights against viruses and bacteria and boost our immune system. People who had frequent sex are found to have more such IgA present in saliva than people who had rare sex.
4. Sex boost our self-esteem. It adds to our sense of worth. Appeal. Attractiveness, feels alive and strong. Because of the production of estrogen during sexual activity, it makes us feel young and look young.
5. Sex makes us smart. More the sex, more are the neurons produced in Hippocampus region. Frequent sex protects our brain from stress hormone. There is high correlation between active sex life and better memory recall. Brain games light up only portions of our grey matter while orgasm light up the entire brain.