Sexual abstinence and the psyche

Originally Posted by DonCoryon

I've read that serotonin decreases sex drive. However, I do not think that sex, or abstinence from sex, has any effect on serotonin levels. Do you have any references that back up your assertion?

Serotonin when regulated properly is maintaining a balance on the libido (lust) vs the ability to fornicate. Everything in the body and brain is about balance, once the brain and body are imbalanced, the neurotransmitters are levelling up and down their receptorsites to try to achieve the correct balance again. I haven't been able to find any references to back up my statement which is odd, but hey maybe that's an angle they haven't looked at extensively yet, most 5HT and libido related references refer to SSRI's which shows where most of the research funding is going.

Originally Posted by Kylar

I would say that is wrong. Sex is an extremely important part of your life. Your justification of harmony being achieved through abstinence is too vague. If by harmony you mean seeing the big picture there are other ways to achieve such a state of mind. I would say that feelings of guilt about sex could be one of your problems you should conquer. Such feelings are not healthy except in abuse cases or extreme dependency on sexual pleasure.

I'm not saying give it up for life, and also it depends whether your body and brain are in balance. If you suffer from mental illness or have underlying emotional problems then I would recommend giving it up totally for a few months, there is no harm in it. All thoughts and emotions are meant to be felt otherwise there is the potential for obsessive compulsive thinking, and underlying emotions not coming up to the surface where they can be dealt with.

I have a very healthy sex life without feelings of guilt or other negative emotions. I used to feel guilty for masturbating, but I believe that is a socially promoted view that is unhealthy. I had a long period of sexual abstinence, 3-4 months and the effects were tremendous, my mood stabilized and I felt more energy. Now I seem able to masturbate without negative mood swings or loss of energy. My body seems to have balanced itself to a good homeostasis.

Originally Posted by Kylar

The irritability without sexual release is a common experience and nothing negative. It is just your brain downgrading the receptors. Sexual abstinence maintained for a long period of time will create a massive increase in serotonin available in the brain, leading to a better mood, more stabile emotions if one has previously been unstable. There is no harm in sexual abstinence, it just allows the body and mind to come to a state of harmony and cellular homeostasis.

This probably isn't true. Because serotonin causes social dominate behaviour in vertebrates which I would see as a less harmonious behaviour not more, probably designed to make you try to find a sexual partner again. I still think feelings of guilt about sex are largely unwarranted and a better way to deal with feelings of numbness are by enjoying other parts of life in equal measure.

Serotonin is more likely to be linked to dopamine in dominant behaviour. ScienceDirect - Behavioural Brain Research : Serotonin reverses dominant social status

Feelings of numbness come from not being able to deal with underlying emotions properly, it is a natural self-defense mechanism which was constructed in order to retain as much energy as possible. The body and brain acts defensively always in its self-preservation. To go against the self-defense mechanisms is like trying to force a war on one's own body and brain. When one has feelings of numbness one can as you say enjoy other parts of life, in which I guess you mean sex as well. This however will not take away the underlying problems that exist in the mind and you will without much doubt fall back into feelings of numbness again after sexual release. Like Cover3 said it is a question of self-control. It is very human to struggle with self-control especially in regards to sexual abstinence as we are going against our primal drive which is one of the strongest forces we have in our psyche. The best answer I could give is to give sexual abstinence a go if you have mood swings or perhaps underlying untangled knots in the psyche which you are not aware of yet. If it has had no effect after 3-4 months I'd retract my statement of advising it.

Originally Posted by Mutatio NOmenis

Well, for how long do I have to abstain?

Up to you, the longer the better. If you can manage 3-4 months, the pros should outweigh the cons monumentally

Originally Posted by Dharma Ga

I'm not saying give it up for life, and also it depends whether your body and brain are in balance. If you suffer from mental illness or have underlying emotional problems then I would recommend giving it up totally for a few months, there is no harm in it. All thoughts and emotions are meant to be felt otherwise there is the potential for obsessive compulsive thinking, and underlying emotions not coming up to the surface where they can be dealt with.

I have a very healthy sex life without feelings of guilt or other negative emotions. I used to feel guilty for masturbating, but I believe that is a socially promoted view that is unhealthy. I had a long period of sexual abstinence, 3-4 months and the effects were tremendous, my mood stabilized and I felt more energy. Now I seem able to masturbate without negative mood swings or loss of energy. My body seems to have balanced itself to a good homeostasis.

Do you think this might just be about your own psychological guilt?

I never felt guilty about masturbating. Therefore, I never had to overcome this.

I have never experienced negative moods or loss of energy from masturbating or sex, in fact, the opposite.

Guilt is a powerful way for the church and historical society to imprint a sense of self-loss. That when we sexually gratify ourselves through masturbation we sin. There is no sin in masturbating as there is no sin in being gay. I left a bible study group, greatly offended on the debate of gay=sin. I'm not gay myself, but the church has a very relical view of normal sexual activity and I could not take that. Slightly off the topic with the example regarding homosexuality, but the point was made.

Good that you haven't felt any adverse effects of the sex or masturbation, it shows you're able to buffer the neurochemical effects of it. I used to get depressed or anxious before, after an orgasm, but that has gone. I am now completely at peace, always.

Originally Posted by Dharma Ga

Serotonin when regulated properly is maintaining a balance on the libido (lust) vs the ability to fornicate. Everything in the body and brain is about balance, once the brain and body are imbalanced, the neurotransmitters are levelling up and down their receptorsites to try to achieve the correct balance again. I haven't been able to find any references to back up my statement which is odd, but hey maybe that's an angle they haven't looked at extensively yet, most 5HT and libido related references refer to SSRI's which shows where most of the research funding is going.

Then we're in agreement then, sexual abstinence has no effect on serotonin levels.

Originally Posted by fourtines

I do not think it is a mistake that I thought your name was "Jehova Project."

Of course it's not, but it's definitely a good name for a rock band.

George Costanza was able to accomplish great things. I guess it works.