Discover 5 fascinating psychological facts about the connection between sex and mental health! This video explores how intimacy impacts your brain, emotions, and overall well-being. Learn surprising insights that can improve your relationships and mental health. Watch now to understand the science behind it!
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00:00Our thoughts, feelings, and overall mental health play a large part in how we experience
00:07sex. Mental health and sex are strongly connected in many fascinating ways. For example, the
00:13brain releases the neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin during sex. What does
00:20this do? This increases one's happiness and relaxation while also temporarily reducing
00:26those negative feelings that can come along with depression.
00:29With our sex life affecting our mental health, and our mental health affecting our sex life,
00:34there are a lot of interesting facts to learn about the two together. So, here are 5 psychological
00:41facts about sex and mental health.
00:43Number 1. Feeling sad after sex? It could be post-coital dysphoria. You've just had
00:49great sex, but then you start to cry. What's going on here? This is actually called post-coital
00:56dysphoria, or PCD, and is quite common. This is when one experiences intense sadness, stress,
01:03or anger post-sex or post-orgasm. According to a 2015 survey of college women published
01:09in the journal Sexual Medicine, 46% of women experienced it at least once, while 5% said
01:16they felt sad and lonely after intercourse several times in a period of 4 weeks.
01:21Post-coital dysphoria happens to males and females, and the authors of the study also
01:26state that there appeared to be no relationship between PCD and intimacy in close relationships.
01:33So, you may find yourself suddenly sad and in tears, even though a few moments ago you
01:39were having the time of your life. There's still much research needed on the cause of
01:43this, but certified sex therapist Ian Koerner believes that it has to do with a release
01:48of hormones, or perhaps vulnerability. Koerner explained in an article from Essence that
01:54post-sex is a reflective period, and that can bring up emotions and experiences you
01:59normally keep under wraps.
02:00Number 2. Positive self-image and masturbation. A 2011 study found that masturbating may just
02:07improve how you view yourself. The study states that, among women, masturbation in childhood
02:13and adolescence has been associated with positive sexual experiences later in life, and a
02:18healthy self-image. In another study of adolescent females aged 16 to 18, those with negative
02:25or indifferent views about masturbation reported negative first sexual experiences compared
02:31with those who held positive views of masturbation. That can make a big difference depending on
02:37if you've mastered masturbation.
02:39Ahem, no one?
02:42While the study's results indicated the majority of males reported masturbation at 73.8%,
02:48while females reported at 48.1%, the topic is still highly stigmatized with a negative
02:54view. The study states, under-reporting by adolescents has been found even with the use
02:59of confidential reporting techniques, further showing the shame and guilt that can be rooted
03:04in this topic for some.
03:05The study goes on to include highly interesting information on the topic, with sex education
03:11often omitting the topic of masturbation, parents having a difficult time discussing
03:16the topic with their child, with some having, the study says, the hope that their children
03:20will view masturbation unfavorably.
03:23The study also explains that in 1994, when US Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders recommended
03:29including masturbation as a topic in public sexual education, she was heavily criticized
03:35and ultimately resigned.
03:38So what's all the fuss? It looks like from the results of this study, your sexual experiences
03:43and self-image may just have a chance to improve a bit.
03:47Number 3. Heart attack myth, unless you're cheating.
03:51While it's often depicted in movies, someone suddenly going into cardiac arrest during
03:55sexual intercourse, it's also not likely to happen, but rather, just great comedic timing.
04:02It's very rare to have a heart attack during sex, with less than 1% of heart attacks occurring
04:07during sex, but still, people tend to hold onto this heart attack myth.
04:11What is fascinating is that research has discovered that at the off-chance heart attacks
04:17do happen during sex, it more often happens to men when they're cheating when in comparison
04:22when someone's having sex with a spouse.
04:24Some believe it could be due to the guilt, anxiety, and overall psychological distress
04:29that can arise from cheating, with the stress affecting the heart.
04:34A 2012 study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine explains that several interpersonal,
04:40and biological factors are associated with having extramarital affairs.
04:45Unfaithfulness in men seems to be associated with a higher risk of major cardiovascular events.
04:52Ah, what sex does to the heart.
04:55Number 4. Arousal non-concordance.
04:58As mentioned before, our thoughts, emotions, and state of mind are an important part in
05:03sex and arousal.
05:04A research study published in 2020 found that sexual inactivity increased among U.S. adults,
05:11predominantly younger men, between 2000 and 2018, with potential public health implications.
05:18So why is this happening?
05:20The study's authors have a few ideas.
05:22The study states that rates of depression and anxiety have increased among young U.S.
05:29adults.
05:30Adolescents are increasingly postponing the start of adult activities, including sex and
05:36dating.
05:37And it has been hypothesized that the introduction of smartphones has resulted in less opportunity
05:42for and skills in real-world human interactions.
05:46So how much can anxiety affect someone's sex life?
05:50Well, for one, it can be pretty difficult to relax enough to enjoy sex if you're experiencing
05:56anxiety.
05:57There's also arousal non-concordance.
06:00This is when the mind does not match up with what the body is feeling.
06:04Your body may be aroused, but your mind is just not feeling it today, or the other way
06:09around.
06:10This often happens to males and females with anxiety.
06:14Self-consciousness can also play a role along with anxiety when it comes to sex.
06:18According to Joe Cort, certified sex therapist and psychotherapist, with males, not performing
06:25can make them even more anxious, which then perpetuates the erectile dysfunction.
06:30He goes on to note, but it's not really an erectile disorder, it's anxiety interfering
06:36with erectile focus.
06:38For women, experiencing arousal and orgasm may become difficult if they have anxiety.
06:44Physiologically speaking, anxiety can take over pleasure in certain cases.
06:48A 2018 study published in the journal Women's Health explains that low sexual desire is
06:54strongly linked to depression.
06:57Lack of subjective arousal and pleasure are linked to trait anxiety.
07:01The sensations of physical sexual arousal may lead to fear rather than to pleasure.
07:07The study goes on to explain that the most common type of sexual pain is 10 times more
07:13common in women with previous diagnoses of anxiety disorder.
07:18Clinicians often do not routinely inquire about their patients' sexual concerns, particularly
07:23in the context of psychotic illness, but careful assessment, diagnosis and explanation of their
07:30situation is necessary and in keeping with patients' wishes.
07:35Number 5.
07:36Time to get creative Remember good old oxytocin?
07:40This hormone is released during sexual activity and linked to the intensity of orgasms, according
07:45to Healthline.
07:46But did you know that this love hormone can also get you feeling creative?
07:51UK psychologist Dr. Becky Spellman explained in an article for the private therapy clinic
07:57that although oxytocin is intended to make you feel closer to your partner, it's also
08:03able to create cognitive flexible pathways in the brain, which can foster creative thinking
08:08and improve problem solving.
08:10The power of oxytocin and sex.
08:13So, did you learn something new about sex and mental health?
08:17What were you most surprised to learn from this video?
08:19Feel free to let us know in the comment section down below.
08:23Share your thoughts.
08:24Get creative.
08:25No, no, not that way.
08:27Not here folks.
08:28Did you enjoy this video?
08:30If so, make sure to hit the like button, share this video with someone who could use it and
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08:36Thanks for watching Psych2Goers.
08:38See you next time.