Friends with Benefits; Is it Worth It?

A friends with benefits relationship is no longer viewed as a taboo union. Sure, there are people who look down upon this type of relationship but for every person that disapproves of this relationship there are many more individuals that are indulging in its benefits. You might ask yourself, what benefits could possibly come out of a relationship that straightforwardly denounces long term and genuine affection? As unconventional as it may seem, there are certain benefits that can be derived from this type of union. I must caution you that engaging in this type of union is for the strong willed. As in any relationship there is always the chance of one person becoming more attached to the other. If you are skeptical about this type of relationship you should take a look below to see what it can offer.

- Friends with benefits relationship is a constant and reliable pick you upper. The act of sex and achieving orgasm is medically proven to relieve stress. According to an article written by Medical Doctor Melissa Conrod Stoppler, "sex is a potent trigger for endorphin release." So if you are down in the dumps and cannot seem to rise above it you don't have to indulge in unhealthy methods such as overeating or taking drugs to suppress your mood. You can instead call up your friend with benefits and practice safe sex with him/her.

- Exclusive friends with benefits relationship allows you to have fun without all the worry. It is possible to participate in a friends with benefits relationship and not worry about catching diseases if you and the person you are with are both free of STDs and remain in a completely excusive relationship. Exclusive relationships mean that only the two of you can have sex together. I caution you that just because you feel as though you can trust your friend, there is always the probability that your friend will slip up and have sex outside of your friends with benefits relationship.

- If you trust the person and know for a fact that they can be truthful in a relationship like this then your experience can be stress free. You can engage in how much sex you want without worrying whether or not you have been infected with an STD the next morning. You should always use proper protection when engaging in sexual activities. Remember, trusting someone does not mean you are safe from contracting STDs.

- Friends with benefits relationships allows you to create a unique bond. For some people relationships like these create an ideal situation because the persons involved can share a friendship and an intimate relationship with someone they know. When you are in a marriage or in the common boyfriend girlfriend relationship you may find that you tend to hold back on revealing how you truly feel. You might find that you are not able to express yourself or fully share long kept secrets with your partner because you fear conflict. In a friends with benefits relationship you can talk like you're best friends and have an intimacy level like you are newlyweds. It can be both exciting and thrilling.

- Friends with benefits relationships save you time on having to find the one. Dating can be very tiring and it comes with considerable ups and downs. With common dating it can take years to find "the one" or to even achieve a certain level of comfort in a relationship. This lengthy time period of waiting is preferable to some because it allows them to take their time and weed through the good and the bad, but waiting this long can prove to be very bothersome to others. In a friends with benefits relationship you do not have to go through the hassle of dating. You get the opportunity to mingle with someone you already know a little bit about. You don't have to risk putting your whole life at stake for "the one" only to find out later that he/she has been cheating on you or for the entire time of your union. If a friends with benefits relationship doesn't work then it ends and you can still be friends in the end.

- Friends with benefits relationship allows you to live out your fantasy without all of the hassle. Many of us have fantasies that we replay in our heads frequently but keep buried deeply into our minds for fear of others thinking that we are very weird and creepy. In a friends with benefits relationship granted that the other person is open you may be allowed to live out at least one fantasy of yours without worrying about the consequence of being looked down on.

A friends with benefits relationship is not fool proof there is plenty of room for heartbreak and jealousy. You must weigh out the pros and cons before thinking of joining a union like this. It is not for everybody. It is easy to have sex but very hard to detach yourself from the person that you have sex with.