“Swimsuit Season” is upon us, and while some
are thrilled to shed their clothes and show some skin, others dread the pool,
beach, or lake, fearing what others will think of them for their body size.
While there isn’t an overnight fix to overcome years of negative feelings about
your body, there are some small steps that can help, and one of these
unconventional tricks requires nothing more than your hand.
Feeling positive about your body is extremely
difficult in a society filled with magazines emblazoned with the word “DIET”
residing in every checkout line, the exact same body type on every movie
screen, and jokes in which a larger bodied person is the punchline. Nearly
every day we are told we are not attractive enough. Combating that takes work.
No matter one’s size or shape, everyone
deserves to feel good about their body, and there are so many ways to do so:
wearing clothes you love, exercising the way you like to, or practicing positive self-talk in the mirror. All of
these are great options, and everyone will have a different preference for
their source of good-feels. However, there might be another practice you
haven’t yet thought of, and that’s masturbation.
From a physical and biological approach,
masturbation simply feels good. Pleasure and orgasms cause chemicals called
endorphins to be released in the brain, and these little hormones cause
feelings of happiness and relaxation. Orgasms also cause muscles to relax, and
encourage blood circulation throughout the body. For these physical reasons, masturbation
(and sex in general!) is great for stress relief, helping to release physical
and mental tension.
Masturbation is a great distraction from
stress, and can also be an intentional moment of mindfulness. The goal of
mindfulness, a practice often used in managing anxiety and stress, is to build
the habit of focusing on the present moment instead of worrying about the past
or what’s to come. Masturbating is an excellent way of bringing your attention
away from worries and into your body, enjoying the pleasure at hand.
Pleasuring yourself is also just that, giving
yourself pleasure. If having sex with someone is called “making love”, then
masturbation could be akin to making love to yourself. Your body deserves to
feel good. People have sex with one another because they’re attracted to one
another, so why should sex with yourself be any different?
Just like sex has the potential to connect two
people, masturbation can connect you with your own self. Both having control
over and getting to know your body can give you a boost of confidence. Through
self-pleasure, you learn what your body likes and how to make it feel good.
Although it may seem like a stretch, feeling good in your body (Pleasure and orgasms!) can totally translate to
feeling good about your body
(Confidence and self-love!).
Masturbation may be often viewed as nothing
more than a naughty secret act, but if you’re reading this little article on a
sex toy store’s blog, than you may know that experiencing pleasure is neither
naughty, nor does it need to be secretive. It has so many physical and mental
health benefits, and using masturbation
to accept and appreciate your body is just one of it’s many perks. So
get down to some self-lovin’ and lovin’ yourself.
By: Sammi
Follow on Twitter @Squeaky_Springs
