Sexual Health and Mental Health

This blog is authored by Brock Jones, MA, QMHP, a member of the IntraSpectrum Counseling clinical team.

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Sexual health is more than just enjoying sex and integrating safer sex practices when that’s right for you; it is also about your mental well being. While being sexually satisfied can contribute to overall satisfaction and happiness, issues like: (1) concern about STIs and physical health, (2) shame and guilt around sex, and (3) lack of confidence can hinder satisfaction, affecting how you view yourself and your relationship to others. These are the very core aspects of one’s mental health.

Emotions and Sex. Sex is emotional. During sexual activity:

• the brain releases chemicals called endorphins which help regulate emotions – these powerful endorphins associated with sex are the same which reduce pain and promote feelings of euphoria
• the intimacy created during sex also boosts serotonin levels – which can help improve mood and help reduce anxiety and depression, and
• the hormone oxytocin is also released during sex – which can leave you feeling calm and relaxed

While these are certainly benefits of sex, over-dependence on sex as an emotional regulation tool has risks. The relief and benefits can be short lasting, and might lead to avoiding unaddressed needs in other areas of your life. It might also begin to create other issues like risky behavior to achieve more temporary reliefs, or challenges in your relationship toward sex like guilt, shame, or depersonalization.

Enhancing Mental Health. Sexual activity can profoundly impact your mental health and self-perception. Studies suggest that sexual intimacy enhances emotional awareness and expression, fostering deeper relationships built on trust and connection. Many studies also suggest sex is physically and mentally beneficial including getting physical activity, promoting quality sleep, building a stronger immune system, and even decreasing risk of age related cognitive decline. Several mental health factors though can reduce these benefits and get in the way:

• stress, anxiety, and depression can often negatively impact desire for sex and enjoyment
• discomfort with one’s body can make it difficult to fully and openly engage in sex
• unhealthy relationship dynamics, guilt and shame about sex, and substance abuse can reduce the mental health benefits of sex

Working on these issues in therapy can help include a healthy sex life into your overall wellness plan.

Increase Sense of Self. For queer people, our sense of self is inherently connected to sexuality. Our queer experiences have significantly shaped how we perceive ourselves, relationships with others, orientation, gender, and our bodies. Sex is no exception. Positive sexual encounters often enhance feelings of pride and confidence, fostering a strong sense of self, worthiness, and liberation. Similarly, negative experiences such as un-affirming and rejecting cultural messaging, sexual violence, discrimination and rejection can lead to feelings of inadequacy and insecurity.

Therapy can help make meaning of these experiences where you can explore these feelings without fear of judgment, helping to build confidence and self-acceptance. Using therapy to discuss how these things intersect and impact self-perception can help to overcome some of these barriers and allow you to feel good about your sexual self.

Maintaining Sexual Health. A barrier to realizing the mental health benefits of a vibrant sex life can be maintaining sexual health. Factors such as physical discomfort, illnesses and infections, changes in body, or injury can interfere in engaging in satisfying sex. Cultural taboos and discomfort about talking about sex, guilt and shame related to sex, lack of knowledgeable and affirming care providers, and past negative experiences can get in the way of seeking care for these issues.

Therapy can be a place to begin overcoming some of these barriers. Your therapist can provide information on sexual health, support you in making informed decisions about your sexual practices, communicating with care providers, and safer sex. They can also provide referrals to queer affirming and body positive medical providers, clinics, and resources.

Conclusion

When you explore the interconnectedness of your mental health and sexual health, you can be fully engaged in both and feel an increased sense of empowerment in your life. Making informed and empowered choices about your mental health can support your mental health to grow your understanding of yourself, improve your relationships with others, and allow you to engage meaningfully in the world.

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This blog is authored by Brock Jones, MA, QMHP, a member of the IntraSpectrum Counseling clinical team. IntraSpectrum Counseling is Chicago’s leading psychotherapy practice dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community, and we strive to provide the highest quality mental health care for multicultural, identity, kink, polyamorous, and intersectional issues. For anyone needing affirming and validating support, please click here or contact us at help@intraspectrum-chicago.com.