Sex is one of the most pleasurable activities you can engage in, and it can help relieve stress and anxiety. But it’s not just getting orgasms that makes sex a stress reliever – research published in The Journal of Health and Social Behavior has discovered that it also reduces cortisol levels – the stress hormone.
It Boosts Endorphins
Exercise, laugh or eat chocolate trigger the release of endorphins – feel-good hormones that make you happy and reduce stress levels. Fortunately, it’s easy to increase these endorphins through natural lifestyle changes that will boost their effectiveness naturally.
Eating Spicy Foods: Studies have demonstrated that spicy foods like chili peppers and cayenne can cause the release of endorphins. This occurs because your brain perceives the heat as a painful stimulus and releases endorphins to reduce it.
Listening to Music: Simply listening to music can help boost your endorphins. This is because the distraction from worries and stress helps release endorphins into the bloodstream.
Engaging in Performing Arts: Dancing and other forms of art can also help boost your endorphins. It’s an effective way to reduce stress and anxiety, as it will allow you to release those feel-good hormones without any negative repercussions.
Receiving a Massage: Light massages can stimulate the release of oxytocin, helping to relieve your stress and anxiety. Regular professional massages have been known for their relaxing effects on both mind and body.
Socializing With Friends: Spending quality time with close friends has been known to release endorphins, which have a beneficial effect on both mind and body. That is why having social connections in your life is so important; they help you relax and reduce stress levels.
Booking a Spa Treatment: Receiving massage from an experienced massage therapist may help stimulate the release of endorphins. This is believed to occur because massage improves blood flow and relieves tension in muscles, leading to greater levels of endorphins production.
Although these activities can help relieve your stress and anxiety, it is imperative that you seek medical advice if you are struggling with severe feelings of depression or other mental health issues. Your doctor can prescribe medications to address the underlying problem as well as offer support in managing symptoms and finding balance in life.
It Stimulates the Release of Oxytocin
Oxytocin, a hormone that supports maternal behavior and lactation, has been found in numerous tissues throughout the body. Outside of the brain, oxytocin can be found in areas such as the uterus, breasts, testicles and adrenal glands.
Oxytocin has a direct connection to breastfeeding and sexual intimacy, but it also fosters feelings of empathy and affection. Studies have demonstrated that people who have taken short-term doses of oxytocin exhibit greater levels of trust, generosity and altruism than those not taking the drug.
Some people have even reported that sharing a meal with someone you care about can provide an instantaneous boost of oxytocin, particularly helpful for couples in the early stages of romantic attachment.
Other ways to boost oxytocin levels include giving gifts, connecting with friends, listening to relaxing music or meditating – particularly loving kindness meditation which has been known to increase levels of this hormone.
Another way to manage stress and anxiety is by learning coping strategies tailored specifically for you. For instance, if deadlines at work are getting you down, take a break and do some deep breathing exercises. Or if you’re waiting to see your doctor, try some relaxation methods such as acupressure or guided meditation.
If you’re struggling to find a stress reliever that works for you, professional assistance may be in order. A counselor or therapist can assist in pinpointing the sources of your anxiety and providing new coping techniques.
You can use oxytocin-boosting techniques at home to help alleviate stress and anxiety when they arise. For instance, if you feel overwhelmed with work responsibilities or struggle to focus during a lengthy meeting, try doing some relaxing activities such as listening to music or practicing loving kindness meditation.
To boost your levels of oxytocin, engage in healthy habits such as talking to friends, exercising, cooking for someone special and listening to relaxing music. These can all help boost oxytocin in the brain.
Sex Reduces Body’s Levels of Cortisol
During sexual activity after using dosage of 비아그라 판매, your body releases feel-good hormones such as dopamine, endorphins and oxytocin that can temporarily reduce stress and anxiety. Furthermore, these chemicals boost libido while strengthening the immune system.
However, too much cortisol can have detrimental effects to your overall health. Excess cortisol leads to weight gain, insomnia, depression and diabetes; additionally, excess cortisol damages the hippocampus – the memory center in your brain – as well as other negative outcomes.
Cortisol levels in the hippocampus have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease (Ottomanescu, 2011). When cortisol levels become too high, it may impede synaptic formation in the hippocampus and make memories more challenging to recall.
Therefore, it’s essential to regulate your body’s levels of these hormones when engaging in sexual activity. The more often you use sex as a way to unwind and reduce stress, the better off you’ll feel overall.
When feeling stressed and anxious, your body produces more cortisol than usual to help manage the situation. Unfortunately, this can lead to a drop in testosterone, which in turn is linked with decreased sex drive.
The good news is that you can alleviate this discomfort by increasing endorphin levels during sexual stimulation. These natural painkillers are released through various activities like massage and bodywork, exercise, eating certain foods, active performance of music and sexual stimuli.
A study of 10 women who watched an erotic film revealed a decrease in their cortisol levels as the movie progressed, compared to when they viewed a documentary film. It wasn’t known why this occurred, but it could have something to do with all the physical exertion associated with sex.
A study published last year discovered that people taking oral contraceptives experienced lower cortisol levels when exposed to sexual stimuli. This could be because oral contraceptives reduce the amount of cortisol produced by your body.
It Helps to Distract Your Mind
There are various methods to distract yourself from anxiety and stress. Mindfulness techniques may also be beneficial, helping keep your focus more in the present.
When people experience anxiety, their mind often races with the same thoughts over and over again. This can make it difficult to focus on anything else; thus, avoiding such thoughts should be a top priority.
You can try and think of some ways to relieve your anxiety, such as taking a shower or going for a walk in the park. Additionally, practicing breathing exercises is beneficial because they help relax both your body and mind.
Talking with someone you know and trust about your worries can be beneficial. This will take the focus away from the issue at hand and enable healthier conversation about it.
Another way to distract yourself is by finding a hobby or interest you enjoy. You could do something relaxing like knitting, painting or baking. Additionally, you could play sports such as tennis or golf for some exercise.
Distraction activities may not be suitable for everyone, so you should ensure they fit your personality and the symptoms you’re experiencing. For instance, if anxiety is an issue for you then opt for distraction techniques which are less stimulating and more relaxing like meditation or yoga.
You can try and distract yourself by making fun of the things you are worrying about. This will make the thoughts much less bearable and help break the cycle of negative thinking.
You can distract yourself by laughing at something funny, such as watching a funny movie or browsing fun meme accounts. This will help to lift you out of any negative emotions you are feeling and will make you feel better about yourself overall.
