Love. We long for it. We need it. Can love affect your mental health? It actually can! Love can help you cope with stress and can also lower your anxiety and depression levels.
Loving someone who suffers from a mental illness can sometimes be hard. I should know because I am the one with depression and anxiety. When you are with the right person, it doesn’t have to be so hard.
WARNING! Patience is required. ⚠️
We can sometimes show love in different ways. We like to be alone for a while but partners… not too long! Sometimes we don’t want to talk about it. Don’t get upset because eventually, we will. We might even have some mixed anger and attitude problems here and there. No matter what you should always show love and support to your fragile lover. These things are always noted!
In a relationship, you shouldn’t have to feel nervous about your struggles. You should be able to talk about them, cry, etc. As a partner, you should be able to want to listen and engage. We may show and act a certain way but we truly do appreciate the love. Who doesn’t?
Below I have put together some fun facts about how the popular four-letter word can affect our mental health!
Hugging
The average person spends about 1 hour a month hugging. An average hug only lasts 10 seconds so that is a lot of hugging! Results of a study show that the average hug can: reduce stress, lower risk of heart disease, and ease depression.
Now if a 10-second hug can do that, what can a 20-second hug do? A 20-second hug can reduce unhealthy physical effects of stress. These can include your blood pressure and heart rate. Full body hugs can decrease loneliness and I know a key part of my depression is feeling lonely.
Cuddles with your partner can make you feel confident and sexy. It makes you feel good and allows you to connect. Cuddling is definitely my favorite. Self esteem booster!
Kissing
Who doesn’t love a good smooch? Kissing also has its benefits. It also can reduce blood pressure and lower your anxiety. It also boosts your self-esteem as well. Studies have also found that it can help with cramping and headaches. Less pain calls for a happier person! Kissing gets some bonus points because it burns calories too.
Sex
We all know the obvious benefits of sex, but what about the deeper ones? How can it help us? Having sex with your partner should make it easier to express emotions and increase trust. Those are important things in a healthy relationship. Sex should be comfortable and fun! Don’t be afraid to be creative, laugh, or even make mistakes. These also make us feel better about our selves. It can also allow us to feel more rested which gives us more energy and can be a headache reliever. Sounds like a happier mood already!
Sex is more of a mental thing rather than a body thing. It can really take a toll on some people. Which is why it is important for some people to know that it is okay to NOT have sex. You don’t need sex to feel love. You should really only do it if you are ready.
All of these things share 1 thing in common and that is the release of oxytocin. Oxytocin is the loooovvvveeeee hormone. Love can come from anywhere, not just your partner. Love comes from family, friends, pets, or even hobbies! Lately, I have been lucky enough to experience the feeling of love from all angles and couldn’t be any more content. How do you guys express love? Thank you all for reading! Follow my Instagram for daily posts; @T_scorner 💋
XOXO
Tiani Angela 