As you know by now, there are a ton of benefits to masturbating, besides the obvious fact that it just feels good. But you might not know that masturbating actually affects your brain. Well, guess what? It does. In more ways than you might think! You might think that having an orgasm is just a temporarily happy moment (which, to be fair, it is), but it can actually have quite an impact on your brain, even after you are done masturbating. You can have similar side effects when you’re masturbating as you would if you are on drugs. Yep, you read that right!
To clarify: I’m not telling you to do drugs. BUT, masturbating can affect certain parts of the brain that certain drugs (like caffeine) also do. So, you should familiarize yourself with that exactly is going on in your brain when you are practicing your “self love.” Not only is it important to know what’s happening in your brain, it’s also important to know how certain acts can affect you…whether it’s in a good way or a bad way. Check out these weird ways masturbating can affect your brain, and try and think about them next time you’re ~feeling yourself~.
You Might Feel Out Of Control
Do you ever feel like you sort of "shut down" while masturbating? That's normal. A part of your brain called the "orbitofrontal cortex" can shut down almost completely, which can make you feel overwhelmed or out of control when you are masturbating. It shouldn't last long and is totally normal! Image Source: iStockYou Might Feel Less Depressed
It's true: when you are masturbating, your brain is releasing dopamine aka the natural "happy" chemical your brain produces. So, not only does it feel good, it even puts you in a better mood. If you're feeling a little down, try to cheer yourself by, you know, getting it on with yourself. No shame. Image Source: iStockOr More Depressed
On the other hand, once you're done masturbating, your dopamine levels will drop, which could cause you to feel a little bummed after you finish. A good way to combat that is to masturbate at night before you go to sleep, so you can drift off to sleep before you get put in a weird mood. Image Source: iStockIt Can Relieve Headaches And Pain
If you have an orgasm while masturbating, it could help aches and pains, particularly headaches. If you're feeling particularly stressed or in pain after a long day, try going at it with yourself. It will really help! Image Source: iStockIt Can Boost Your Memory
Forgot where you put your car keys? Masturbate! JK, but actually, studies have shown that when you're masturbating, your brain is actually going through its own mini workout, which can help your brain stay healthy and active and even improve your memory. So, it probably won't help you remember things from your childhood, but it can actually help improve the blood flow to your brain. Image Source: iStockYou Might Feel Tired AF After
Your brain needs some rest, too. After you masturbate, your brain goes into what is called a "cooling off" period AKA you feel a little zoned out and sleepy after you are finished with your masturbation session. Another reason why it's best to masturbate right before bed, as opposed to masturbating right before a very big and important test that determines the fate of your future. Image Source: iStockYou Might Get Addicted
Okay, so your brain really likes all of those chemicals that are released when you masturbate. So much so that you might get a little addicted to the act of masturbating. It can actually be kind of scary, but it's still pretty rare that you can get addicted to masturbating. Still, if you find yourself wanting to do it 24 hours a day, seven days a week, you might want to tone it down a bit. Image Source: iStockWhat did you think of these masturbating facts? Tell us in the comments!
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