SomethingSexyPlanet.com Blog

As anyone in a relationship knows, disagreements can place a great deal of tension into interaction, festering for days, weeks – and in some extreme cases, even years. However, new science is hinting that there may be a way to “beat” stress – in more ways than one.

According to a recent University of Northern Illinois study, both couples and individuals that engage in BDSM practices (spanking, flogging, binding, etc) actually show a measurable drop in cortisol, a stress hormone, after a “scene” – that is, a period of specified time where the BDSM action is begun, performed and concluded. This theory is further explored in an Australian study of 20,000 people, during which those that engage in BDSM play were found to have significantly lower scores on a scale that indicated mental stress.