Exploring Your Sexuality: A Path to Improved Sexual Wellness
Written by Psy. Harshna with Natt Nyah BSW
Sexual wellness is an essential component of one’s overall health and well-being. Engaging in sexual exploration, also known as "sexploration,[1]" can significantly impact women’smental health, relationships, and overall quality of life.
Following are the benefits of engaging in healthy sexual exploration and its potential to enhance women’s sexual health:
Sexual Exploration and Mental Wellness: The Connection
Sexual exploration is not just about physical pleasure; it's also about discovering and understanding your own desires, boundaries, and needs. This process of self-discovery can be empowering and can improve our mental health by increasing self-esteem, reducing anxiety and depression, and promoting a positive body image.
According to a 2017 study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior [2], individuals (both women and men) who reported higher levels of sexual satisfaction also had better mental health outcomes, including lower levels of stress, depression, and anxiety.
How “Sexploration” Affects Your Life
In addition to the mental health benefits, sexual explorationhas also been linked to physical health benefits, including a stronger immune system and reduced risk of heart disease.
Sexual activity releases endorphins and oxytocin, which can reduce stress and boost our mood. Furthermore, exploring our sexuality can help us build stronger and more fulfilling relationships, which can improve our overall quality of life.
Intimacy is not just about sex; it's about feeling connected and supported by others. Healthy intimacy practices can support our mental health and overall wellness by providing us with a sense of safety, belonging, and connection.
Touch, massage, and other forms of physical intimacy can release oxytocin, which is known as the "cuddle hormone" because it promotes feelings of bonding and trust[3]. Open communication and emotional intimacy can also help build stronger relationships and reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.
How to Explore Your Sexuality in a Sex-Positive Way
Exploring your sexuality can be intimidating, especially if you've been raised in a culture that stigmatizes sex or emphasizes shame around sexual desires. However, there are many resources available to help you explore your sexuality in a sex-positive way.
You can start by joining sex-positive communities like online forums or local groups where you can interact with like-minded individuals and share your values and interests. Additionally, counseling or therapy sessions can provide you with the necessary tools to work through feelings of shame or guilt associated with your sexuality, while also guiding you in exploring your desires and boundaries in a healthy manner.
If exploring your sexuality with someone else feels too intimidating, you can try fantasizing or self-pleasuring. Masturbation offers an excellent opportunity to understand your sexual preferences without external influences, allowing you to explore your desires more freely.
Ending Note
Exploring your sexuality is a path to improved sexual wellness, but it's also a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. By embracing a sex-positive view of sexuality and building healthy intimacy practices, you can improve your mental health, relationships, and overall quality of life.
Remember, sexual wellness is an essential component of a woman’s overall health and well-being, and it's never too late to start exploring your needs and boundaries.
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