Why is aftercare important?
You know it’s important. But why? How does it help?
WHY IS AFTERCARE IMPORTANT? It’s an act of courtesy.
According to an @iamwellandgood article, “during sex, chemicals like oxytocin, dopamine, and prolactin are released.” The fluctuation of these hormones, along with personal experiences and personalities, can cause:
📉 Kink drop: In the BDSM world, it is said sex play can induce a trance-like state that puts the body in a fight-flight response which could end up being contradictory and dangerous, especially for the submissive parties in the dynamic (Dr. Dexter, ChicoMUNCH).
📉 Post-coital dysphoria: “PCD is the experience of negative affect characterized by tearfulness, a sense of melancholy or depression, anxiety, agitation, or aggression following sexual intercourse” (Schweitzer et al., 2015). AKA the sudden sadness you feel after sex.
📉 Trauma-triggered responses: During the sexual encounter, one of the parties involved could reenact past sexual traumatic events and, as a result, feel distressed with what just happened, even if it was consented to and with a trusted partner.
Ending a sexual experience abruptly can amplify the effects of any of the above responses; in which case, aftercare can help “soothe [one’s] nervous system, and allow [it] come back to [daily] life in a way that feels authentic” for all parties involved (Dune, 2020; @dipseastories).
Sexual aftercare helps us to create a feeling of closeness and intimacy, and feel less lonesome directly after sex. It makes it obvious that we are cared about and cared for instead of feeling tossed aside or left alone. The primary purpose is to smooth the nervous system and allow you to come back to real life in a way that feels natural for you.
Nurture a healthy sexual relationship, even if the nature of it is casual.
Dive deeper into this subject:
Why is aftercare important? was originally published on My Sex Bio’s blog on July 23, 2022.
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