Mental Health Month and Masturbation Month both fall in May:

May is the month of joy in many ways. If you live in a country where winter is a reality, you understand the joy of May flowers and the long-awaited warmth of the sun.

But May is not just about the jubilant resurgence of birds, bees and trees. For starters, May is masturbation monththe time of year when you drop any (deeply questionable) reasoning you might have for not rubbing one on a daily basis, and get in touch with your juiciest self.

It may also happen Mental Health Awareness Monthwhich has been recognized annually by Mental Health America (MHA) since 1949. The goal? To raise awareness about mental health and its challenges, as well as celebrate mental health victories. While mental health has certainly become a more normalized topic of conversation, there is clearly more work to be done. The theme for this year’s Mental Health Month is “Back to the sources”, which aims to provide basic mental health knowledge as well as information on courses of action for anyone experiencing mental health problems.

It is extremely fitting that mental health and masturbation share a month, given the countless The benefits of masturbation on physical and mental health.

The Mental Health Benefits of Masturbation

Masturbation can provide many mental health benefits, including sexual pleasure, joy, and much-needed distraction. For some, it can even be a way to reclaim their bodies after negative or traumatic experiences like abuse or sexual assault. Especially for those of us who were raised to believe that our sexual pleasure is shameful, a healthy relationship with masturbation can provide a rare opportunity to get to know our bodies better in a loving and sensual way!

Some tangible mental health benefits of masturbation to consider:

It’s relaxing

Self-pleasure releases mood-enhancing chemicals like oxytocin, dopamine, and endorphins, even without reaching orgasm. Investigation found that 39% of those who masturbate do so to relax“Orgasm relieves tension because oxytocin stimulates feelings of warmth and relaxation,” says one Planned Parenthood Report 2007These “mood-enhancing chemicals” can also relieve tension in the body and even help cure migraines or ease menstrual cramps. This is important because physical health and mental health are inextricably linked, of course.

It’s an anti-stress

Fear and anxiety levels must decrease for orgasm to become possible. Most of us only need to think about it for a moment to realize that this is true. Furthermore, research Dutch scientists have discovered that when women reach orgasm, the amygdala (the part of the brain associated with fear and anxiety) shuts down! What better way to cancel out a stressful day?

It will help you sleep

Orgasms Can Help You sleep bettersimply put. Getting enough sleep, especially during REM sleep, helps your brain process emotional information. Lack of sleep can hamper the processing of positive emotions, which in turn impacts mood and emotional reactivity. Not to mention, about your sex life. Lack of sleep is associated with mental health problems, including a risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Ultimately, however, it should be noted that there is a Bidirectional relationship between sleep and mental health—in other words, sleep problems can be both a cause and a consequence of mental health problems.

This is the self-care you need, even if you’re in a relationship

Whether you are in a relationship or notMasturbation is a powerful form of self-care. If you’re in a relationship that has made solo pleasure sessions taboo, it may be time to reevaluate your situation. Many people lose their sense of self in relationships, and masturbation can be a wonderful way to rediscover your personal joy. After all, your individual sexuality doesn’t disappear just because you enjoy sharing it with someone else. You need those little moments in life that are all about you. And taking the time to tend to your personal needs is a boon to your mental health.

If you are concerned about your mental health…

While masturbation can improve mental health, sometimes it’s not the solution to your problem. Know that you’re not alone. Sometimes professional treatment is necessary, and there’s no more shame in that than there is in masturbating (ZERO!).

According to the MHA, treatment times for mental health conditions are unfortunately longer than for many other health conditions. However, getting screened for mental health conditions can increase your chances of accessing treatment. As it happens, the MHA offers free, anonymous, and scientifically validated screenings mental health exams. While online screening tools are meant to provide a quick snapshot of your mental health, your results can be used to start a conversation with a primary care physician, friends, or family members. Having the results of a screening in hand can be empowering and help you plan an action plan to address your concerns and needs.

You can do it. <3