Affects vs. Effects
To understand the effects of sex, we must first understand the differences in the words.
Affects – verb. To impact or change to make a difference.
Effects – noun. The end result of an action or cause.
Don’t let the homophone fool you. Yes. It’s fun to play with words too. Call me a word geek. I’ll accept it!
Sex affects our moods, our brains, our bodies, and our overall well-being in general. Which is exactly why we need to be talking about and having more of it.
Today, you’re going to understand how sex affects you in a positive way and how you can achieve more of it either with yourself, or with a partner.
Thank you to Julian Myles of unsplash for this photo!
Sex Affects
Affects – verb. To impact or change.
Sex affects us all differently, yet the same. It’s kind of like when you go to one of those Wine-And-Design shops where everyone paints the same picture on the canvas, but everyone’s picture looks different, yet…the same.
You know where I’m coming from.
What I’m trying to say is, we’re all affected by sex in good and different ways. Keep reading to learn 10 ways sex affects you.
1. Sleep
Ladies, you know what this is like for the men in our lives. They orgasm, become totally tired, and mostly fall quickly asleep after their release. Alternatively, we’re ready to take on the world, feeling spry with energy. However, when we do rest our heads, it takes no time to fall asleep.
According to The Sleep Foundation“…having an orgasm releases a hormone called prolactin, which makes you feel relaxed and sleepy.”
I recommend buying an eye mask to keep the sun’s light at bay, therefore allowing you extra time for your beauty sleep.
2. Grow in your sexuality
Just like anything else, the more you do it, the more you learn from it. The more you learn, the more you know. The more you know, the better decisions you can make.
This is a blog post all in itself, but I’ll touch on it briefly here. Take the time to talk to your partner and communicate. Take turns telling one another what you like, and don’t like. What you’d like to see and do more of, or less of. This book by Bento C. Leal III can help you learn more about how to effectively communicate.
Explore your body by yourself if you haven’t already. It’s okay to learn about yourself. You are YOU and you should know what makes you feel good. Then you can better communicate what you learn with your partner.
We’re all-different; remember this. Just because one thing feels good to your friend, doesn’t necessarily mean it will feel good to you. Learn about your body, so you can be empowered and grow in your own sexuality.
3. Pain
If you’re one of the thousand’s of people out there who suffers from chronic pain, or even occasional pain, this may be a solution. A temporary solution at the very least.
Palo Alto, California. sex therapist Marty Klein, Ph.D. says, “Sex is terrific for people with arthritis. Sex involves gentle, range-of-motion exercise, which minimizes pain and inflammation. It also releases endorphins, the body’s natural pain relievers. Sex strengthens the muscles around the joints, which helps support them. And it’s mood-elevating, which likewise helps alleviate pain.” You can read her full story here.
4. Libido
Libido, or our sex drives, varies between each of us. If you’re interested in increasing yours, one the way to do it is through connection. Learning about your partner and improving your relationship can improve your sex drive and the desire to be intimate. Date nights and quality time alone can increase your libido.
Choose an activity to complete together that doesn’t involve sex, like gardening perhaps. Cooking a light meal would be another good example of working together to create an outcome beneficial for the both of you.
When you connect outside the bedroom, the connection inside of it will blow your mind.
5. Feel Alive
Number five is alive! If you know the Short Circuit reference, you’re smiling inside right now, like I am. In all honesty, number five on this list of sex affects, is alive!
Sex makes us feel alive. When we’re living in the moment and taking in our partner, we are alive and focusing on everything that’s going on in that moment. If you’re in a daze, wake yourself up! Be deliberate in the kisses you give and caresses you offer. As you fondle your partner really feel yourself become alive and authentically you. Fall deeper in love with what turns you on and express that to your partner. When you feel good, your partner will too.
Sex releases the feel good hormone “dopamine” a neurotransmitter affecting the brain and making us literally feel happy. If you crave it, this is partly why.
If I’ve said it once, I’ll say it a 1000 times. It all starts with a mindset. Falling very close second though, is feeling alive by living in the moment with purpose. You will feel more authentically you, which will make you feel more alive than you ever thought was possible.
How Sex Effects You
Effects – noun. The result of a change.
Sex affects us all differently, yet the same.
Sound familiar?
The effects we see, such as these listed below, will have you scheduling more time with your partner and less time in front of the TV. Most of these you already know, I’m just offering you a gentle reminder.
6. Mood
Sex affects our mood by releasing endorphins. This is important because these mood-boosting hormones are natural pain relievers, also having de-stressing effects. It becomes easier to relax when your pain is reduced making it easier become intimate. This article in healthline helps to explain more about how masturbation effects our moods too.
7. Energy
Sex has an impact on our energy levels by giving us a natural boost. Think about it. After you’re done exercising you get this natural boost of energy caused from your body’s reaction to the effects of exercise.
Similarly, sex is like exercise. Sometimes it’s pretty vigorous and causes deep heavy breathing; just like exercise causes deep heavy breathing when we do our cardio.
Sex also offers continuous repeated slow movements. Also, very close to the range of motion exercise you may do before or after a work out.
The boosts of energy we get after exercise are the same boosts of energy we get after sex.
8. Stress
Generally speaking, when our stress levels fluctuate, so do our sex drives. When stress is abundant in our lives, we fell less connected to one another. When we feel less connected, we have less sex.
It’s important to first recognize you’re dealing with a stressful circumstance and that (almost) everything is temporary.
Then, understand you can still achieve an orgasm EVEN when being stressed out. It may take your body a little longer than normal to become aroused, but it’s possible.
There are steps you can take to help relieve stress such as exercise, gardening, or meditation. Download the free PDF at the end of this blog and receive 10 of my recommendations on how you can relieve stress in your life today and enjoy more intimacy tomorrow.
9. Memory
Sex can both boost your memory and temporarily wipe it clean.
Have you ever felt that feeling of sex drunk? Where you literally don’t know what do to after you’ve had your release. It’s like you’re suspended and lost in time. It’s actually quite amazing if you’ve ever experienced it and is known as “global transient amnesia” and happens after incredibly amazing sex. You can learn more about it here.
A study done on mice proved the mice having more sex had an increase of neurons in their hippocampus. This is important because an increase of neurons means an increase in memory.
10. Fluids
Sex effects our bodily excretions. For example, when we become excited and aroused, our bodies create fluids. In women, staying hydrated is also a good way to keep lubricated down there. When we become horny, our bodies natural reactions are to secrete fluids.
The more aroused we become, the more wetness we create. The more lubrication, the better. Lubrication allows for painless intercourse, and easy gliding. Sometimes when you need a little more help, this lubrication is formulated to match your bodies pH and I highly recommend it.
Some women do have a hard time combating dryness. Spending more time using foreplay can help.
In addition, consider adding more omega 3 fatty acids to your diet. Foods like salmon, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, or tuna are a great source of omega 3 fatty acids and can really help in fixing the dryness of your vaginal canal. If you’re not a fan of these foods, consider a supplement like this one from Amazon.
In Conclusion
I hope all of you who have taken the time to finish this blog have realized why it’s so important to incorporate sex into your lives. There are so many benefits, yet we sometimes still make it a chore or a task to check off on the to-do list.
When we change our mindsets, we change the way we view things. One of my favorite quotes by Wayne Dyer, the author of this book, The Power Of Intention is:
‘Change the way you look at things and the things you look at will change’.
Realizing the healthy benefits of sex and intimacy, which comes along with connecting is powerful and should be exercised.
So have sex!
Enjoy it!
Feel good when you’re doing it!
Know that long after your release, your body will still feel the positive effects sex truly has on our minds, bodies, and overall well-being.
Until next time, be well, and kind to one another.
