For many, it's believed that physical benefits are the most important thing when it comes to masturbation, sex, and orgasm. You know, all those sensations you feel, the beautiful release of climax, being physically close with either yourself or your partner.

But actually, there are just as many, if not more, mental health benefits when it comes to solo sex and partnered play.

Are you ready to love masturbation even more? Because you'll surely appreciate all of the mental health benefits that comes with masturbating, sex, and orgasming.

What Are the Benefits of Masturbation on Your Mental Health?

While some people may see masturbation as a taboo or even wrong, it's actually one of the best ways to get in touch with yourself and experience an unwavering sense of self-love. 

It's also a way to bring about a healthier and happier mental state, as the act itself as well as the blissful climax that may follow, has a direct influence on your hormones, bodily functions, and disposition. 

And if you think about it, isn't masturbating one of the most basic yet simpler pleasures in life? A pleasure that doesn't involve things we may not like or agree with, such as exercise, a changed diet, or taking medication? Yes, indeed. Masturbating isn't a luxury, it's a basic need.

10 Reasons Why Masturbation Positively Affects Your Mental Health

Today, we're going to introduce you to all the wonderful ways masturbation can contribute to a happier and healthier you!

Let's dive into the magical world of masturbation and how it'll give you that elusive glow and a boost in mental health.

1. A Boost in Self-Esteem and Body Image

When we take the time to get to know our bodies, we have the capacity to really love ourselves. Masturbating is an opportunity to promote arousal, experiment with different types of stimulation, and to find new ways to achieve climax. Plus, when we know our bodies better, we also become better lovers, as we can talk with our partner about what we like and what we don't like. This a sense of freedom and self-confidence that's certainly at the forefront of body acceptance.

2. An Improved Mood

(Side note: we do go into more detail about how masturbation affects our mood and overall mental health in number 4.) When we orgasm during masturbation, we release the hormone dopamine. With higher levels of dopamine, we can experience feelings of euphoria, bliss, and happiness. In fact, dopamine is the hormone that is released when we're rewarded. This, of course, can make us feel motivated while experiencing an elevated mood.

3. Improved Sleep

There's a powerful hormone that comes with masturbation, especially after orgasm. This hormone is called prolactin. It's made by the pituitary gland, and one of its primary functions is to promote rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. REM is important because it increases brain activity and is important for learning and memory. Basically, it is an opportunity for you to handle the information you've taken in during the day and store it in your long-term memory. Plus, who doesn't like a good night's sleep?

 4. Reduces Anxiety and Depression

When we masturbate with orgasm, there is a rush of hormones that get released. Endorphins (stress-relieving), and oxytocin (the love hormone) being a few. Together, these two hormones help reduce anxiety and depression, while bringing about a feeling of calmness, relaxation, and self-love. Not just that, but there is also a drop in cortisol during orgasm, which is the stress hormone. 

5. Allows for Short-Term Pain Relief

While pain is physical, we all know that being in pain can affect our mental health negatively. For example, during debilitating menstrual cramps or when one is plagued with a splitting headache, it could bring about moodiness, annoyance, and a lack of focus. The good news is, when you masturbate (and enjoy climax), you'll be able to experience short-term pain relief. In women, it was found that their pain threshold elevated by over 47 percent when pressure was put on their G-spot. And when they orgasmed, their pain threshold went up by more than 108 percent.

6. Aids in Sexual Exploration in a Safe Space

For those who feel anxious or nervous to be with a partner, masturbating allows you to experiment in a safe space. By setting the mood, ensuring that you won't be interrupted, and taking it slow, you can enjoy the many benefits that masturbation and pleasure has to offer before partnered play. It's almost like a warm up before you share your bliss with someone else, removing some of those nerves or pre-intimacy jitters.

7. Aids in Focus and Concentration 

After you've basked in all the feel-good hormones that are brought about after orgasm, the blood that surged to the genitals begin to flow back to the brain. Now this doesn't actually mean that you're experiencing super focus, or a surge of concentration that you weren't feeling before orgasm. It's more like a placebo effect. It's moving the blood back to the brain as opposed to the genitals, creating homeostasis, and leads you to believe that you're super-focused because, before that, you probably felt as though you couldn't focus at all.

8. Allows for Sexual Empowerment 

There are so many people, establishments, and religions that condemn masturbation. Not just that, but some grow up in a household that says that masturbation is forbidden and a taboo. With that, there is the possibility to unlearn behaviours (yet we certainly aren't here to influence or challenge your beliefs.) But we do believe that masturbating and giving yourself the chance to explore and enjoy your body is a given right...one that aids in better physical and mental health. It's a great time to remove the social stigma of masturbation, especially when it comes to women, and for us to embrace sexual empowerment. 

9. Allows One to Reclaim Their Bodies After Trauma

For those who've experienced sexual trauma, the road to healing and enjoying one's body and sex (again) can be difficult and long. Masturbating gives one the time and space to reclaim their own sense of body and pleasure, knowing that it is totally within their control. This act of self-love can help those living with trauma to reconnect with themselves and to feel attached to one's body once again all within a safe space and on their own timeline.

10. Increased Satisfaction

With all the feel-good hormones that are released during masturbation and orgasm, it's undeniable... you'll feel a much larger sense of increased satisfaction. This is because it activates the reward circuits in your brain. In other words, it'll make you feel as though you've won the lottery or some kind of big prize.

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So, while we've only mentioned 10 benefits of masturbation on your mental health, there are a slew of other things that we can all enjoy when we engage in this act of self-care. Enjoy your body and you'll be rewarded with a happier and healthier you!