Depression And Sex

Depression And Sex

Depression can affect every aspect of your life -- including sex. Most people believe that depression causes one to not be interested in sex, but this is not completely true. Depression can actually have the opposite effect as well. It can cause one to become abnormally interested in sex.

With that said, however, in most cases, depression does cause one to lose interest in sex. The other partner in the relationship may feel that the person lost interest in sex with them, if they do not understand depression. They may even start to feel resentment towards the depressed partner, even if they do understand depression.

Sex requires energy, coordination, and even spontaneity. Unfortunately, because depression does tend to slow down the mind and the body systems, these are things that it is very hard for a depressed person to do or feel. This is generally why there is a diminished interest in sex when one is depressed. They may also feel unloved or unworthy of love.

There is a physical aspect to it as well. Men who are depressed often have trouble attaining or maintaining an erection. Women who are depressed often have trouble reaching orgasm. These physical problems make the depressed person want sex even less -- and may even serve to deepen the overall depression.

A person who was still interested in sex before they were treated for depression may suddenly become uninterested in sex as well. This is because many of the antidepressants used for depression will have an adverse affect on one's sexual drive. Often however, this will pass, as the body adjusts itself to the medication. For others, these feelings may not pass until the medication is discontinued.

The important thing to realize is that as depression is treated, these problems and feelings also diminish, and the person does indeed become interested in sex once again.