An Australian woman has said her doctor 'prescribed' orgasms to help treat her bipolar disorder.
According to whimn.com.au, the Aussie, who is given the name Penny Sullivan, went to see her GP after struggling with her mental health for 'decades'. She was eventually diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder.
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She says she was then given all the 'standard' advice, including taking up exercise and ditching alcohol, as well as prescribing medication.
However, she says she was also told to have 'as much sex as she could handle'. Penny says she followed the doctor's advice and has found that her moods have stabilised after having more frequent sex with her husband.
Penny says that the added intimacy with her other half has made her happier, but they don't always feel the need to have sex to get the same feeling.
She said: "Simply touching, cuddling or just fooling around and being connected can be just as great to get those feel goods." Lovely, eh?
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When it comes to the idea of sex as a mood-enhancer, there's a fair bit of research - not to mention a shit ton of anecdotal evidence - to back it up.
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Isiah McKimmie, a sexologist (great job title), told whimn.com.au: "Sex elevates our mood through the release of hormones and endorphins it causes in our brain.
"It increases oxytocin (a love and bonding hormone,) serotonin (a happiness hormone) and dopamine levels. These help us experience feelings of love, connection and happiness.
"Additionally, semen contains mild anti-depressant compounds. Women who have unprotected sex with their partners have been shown to have elevated moods compared to women who always or mostly use condoms."
As a little bonus to what our pal, Isiah, says, I'd like to add that it's important to always practise safe sex, because any potential 'happy hormones' released while you're shagging will be knocked aside by the realisation you've picked up an STD.
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Isiah continues: "I think we need to be mindful that sex doesn't get relied on too strongly for us feeling good. It's important that we develop other ways of coping with our emotions and feeling good also.
"Mental health issues can have a negative impact on our sex lives, so we may need to 'work harder' to feel in the mood. Certain medications may also lower feelings of desire and the ability to reach orgasm, so talk to your doctor or a sex therapist if you're experiencing these symptoms."
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Sound advice.
Source: whmn.com.au
Featured Image Credit: Columbia PicturesTopics: Interesting, Sex, Community, Weird