A close, loving relationship which includes healthy sexual expression is clearly a boon to mental health. Jo Hawkins Donovan, psychotherapist Sex within a warm, intimate relationship causes the release of pleasure endorphins in the brain, with all their benefits, in addition to physiological benefits. The emotional and physical bond of intimacy provides social support and is probably chief among healthy ways to deal with stress.
Relationships go through many more phases than the moon, even within a single month.
In a lifetime, the relationship is an ever-changing organism. It is difficult for the warmth of intimacy to penetrate that shield. A rich source of learning about intimacy, however, is our conscious mind. Our feelings and actions are often dictated by what we are thinking about someone or something. Women can learn to tune in to their self-talk with acuity and to use healthy thinking patterns to enrich intimate relationships.