The best way to make-up

"Pirates and Salty Wenches" is for entertainment purposes only. Vivian Stockton is not a certified sex columnist. She can only offer advice of an experienced college student. Please direct all comments, questions or concerns to the Editor in Chief, at editor@theeastcarolinian.com

With practically only one month left in the semester, we are all getting a little frazzled. And it just so happens that high levels of stress mixed with late nights studying make it so much easier to become quite irritated with your partner. Next thing you know, that ridiculous argument has manifested into an unnecessary fight that has your hands at each other's throats.

But have no fear, make-up sex is here! There is nothing better than the steamy, animalistic sex that occurs after a blowout fight. Your passions are high and words are no longer expressive enough, so you just give in to uninhibited love making and before you know it, the two of you have practically forgotten what you were fighting about in the first place.

Make-up sex comes in a few variations as explained by David Strovny, sex education correspondent, in his article, "The Advantages of Make-Up Sex."

Most notably, there are:

"Don't touch me, I'm angry"

Strovny says that this particular brand of make-up sex could involve a little physical aggression and is more raw. Your partner may even be apprehensive to let you touch her. But by grabbing her by the face and deeply kissing her and not allowing her to fully calm down, you could find yourself diving headlong into a sea of passionate, rip-each-other's-clothes-off sex. You're less likely to be inhibited in your sexual desires as your emotions segue from hostile to hot -- and let's be honest, the less inhibited you are, the more pleasurable the sex can be.

"I'll do anything, just don't go"

This kind is usually brought about when the fight has been your fault. Here you show your partner how apologetic you are and how much she truly means to you. Strovny says this kind of sex can be "earth-shattering, considering you're making her feel like a million dollars because you're behaving in a vulnerable manner." Revealing how lost you would be without your partner can create the perfect mood for sincere love-making.

To be honest, before I had experienced the glory of make-up sex, I was a skeptic. I had been told how wonderful it could be, but the last thing I wanted to do after having a huge fight was jump in the sack. I rationalized that I would be rewarding my beau for bad behavior. But one day it just happened -- we got in a fight and I found myself wrapped up in more passion than I had been since the beginning of the relationship. Afterwards, we found ourselves tangled up in each other, me wondering how I could have possibly been so angry not even an hour ago. So I decided I would research the topic and try to shed a little light on why we find it so pleasurable to make love after war.

When you fight, your body increases production of adrenaline and dopamine. The adrenaline causes you to become physically pumped and the dopamine causes your body to start to feel good, so your body gets a natural inclination to become turned on and excited.

In budding romances, make-up sex can provide the couple with a certain amount of security and comfort after that first big fight. Being new to a relationship and experiencing your first few fights can leave you feeling unsure of how your partner feels about you, or you might feel guilty because you feel the fight was your fault. By partaking in make-up sex, you are doing something that reaffirms you as a couple, providing you with the emotional reassurance you may need in the beginning of your relationship.

For those who have been together for a while, having make-up sex after an intense fight can act as therapy in the same way it does for newer couples. Although you are comfortable in your relationship, you sometimes need a reminder of why you are in the relationship. The strong emotions that are aroused through a fight that results in sex can show long-time couples that they are still emotionally and physically captivated by each other.

However, if you and your lover are constantly coming to blows before you enjoy each other's company, you may have reason to be concerned. Fighting is natural and healthy in relationships -- it shows that you care. But when the relationship becomes a mixture made mostly of yelling, fighting and sex, you should probably evaluate the direction your relationship has taken.

This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.