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Is Depression Ruining Your Sex Life?

How your mental health might stop you from having the sex you deserve.

By Celina CalmaPublished 7 years ago 5 min read
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The short answer?

Probably.

The long answer: It's complicated.

There is no doubt that the mind plays an integral role in sexual activities. In a successful sexual encounter, the mind and body are synchronized to maximize the pleasurable aspect of sex. But what happens when mind and body are not in sync?

Mental illness can play a hindering role to peoples’ lives in general, and unfortunately, that hindrance can spread into a sex life as well. For some people with unipolar depression, this issue becomes very salient.

When patients with depression are prescribed antidepressants, a typical mechanism of action for the drug is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).

If a patient is diagnosed with depression and then prescribed SSRIs, they may be in for a double whammy of sexual dissatisfaction. Luckily, there are steps one can take to assuage the situation.

How the heck can I have a banging sex life? Am I doomed?

No.

To understand why a person on SSRIs can exhibit decreased sexual satisfaction, it would be wise to note how the drug can influence one’s sex life. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter responsible for an elevated mood and happiness.

A patient diagnosed with depression will re-uptake their serotonin too often or too quickly, or their body may not produce enough serotonin in the first place. SSRIs are antidepressants that work by blocking the reuptake of serotonin between synapses, effectively keeping serotonin levels high.

While this process sounds completely beneficial, there is sadly a downside – an increase in serotonin is linked to a diminished sex drive. Therefore, patients with sexual problems stemming from their depression may experience a twofold effect of dissatisfaction when prescribed SSRIs.

These drugs can positively change the lives of people with depression, but this side effect can be more than a small inconvenience.

As Troy Bolton says, "Keep ya head in the game."

Though a happy sex life on SSRIs seems bleak, there are steps one can take to help the situation.

Mindfulnesshas been studied and proven to increase sexual satisfaction. Mindfulness is a mental exercise that involves bringing the mind’s awareness back into the present.

A mindfulness exercise may guide individuals to pay attention to their breathing or to simply notice the sounds within a room. Because a key aspect of sexual satisfaction lies in the ability to maintain a sense of awareness with the presence, mindfulness can help individuals focus on the pleasure right in front of them.

This could – in theory – counteract the negative sexual effects on SSRIs.

Bringing Sexy Back

While depression is a complex and multifaceted disorder, there are steps one can take to assuage some of the sexual symptoms. SSRIs remain incredibly beneficial in decreasing feelings of sadness but may cause a dip in libido.

Therefore, mindfulness exercises can play a key role in compensating for the effects of SSRIs – and the benefits of mindfulness extend beyond that.

While there is no guarantee for people who take SSRIs and practice mindfulness, these two actions are nonetheless steps towards a happy, healthy, and sexy life.

The long answer: It's complicated.

There is no doubt that the mind plays an integral role in sexual activities. In a successful sexual encounter, the mind and body are synchronized to maximize the pleasurable aspect of sex. But what happens when mind and body are not in sync?

Mental illness can play a hindering role to peoples’ lives in general, and unfortunately, that hindrance can spread into a sex life as well. For some people with unipolar depression, this issue becomes very salient.

When patients with depression are prescribed antidepressants, a typical mechanism of action for the drug is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).

If a patient is diagnosed with depression and then prescribed SSRIs, they may be in for a double whammy of sexual dissatisfaction. Luckily, there are steps one can take to assuage the situation.

How the heck can I have a banging sex life? Am I doomed?

No.

To understand why a person on SSRIs can exhibit decreased sexual satisfaction, it would be wise to note how the drug can influence one’s sex life. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter responsible for an elevated mood and happiness.

A patient diagnosed with depression will re-uptake their serotonin too often or too quickly, or their body may not produce enough serotonin in the first place. SSRIs are antidepressants that work by blocking the reuptake of serotonin between synapses, effectively keeping serotonin levels high.

While this process sounds completely beneficial, there is, sadly, a downside – an increase in serotonin is linked to a diminished sex drive. Therefore, patients with sexual problems stemming from their depression may experience a twofold effect of dissatisfaction when prescribed SSRIs.

These drugs can positively change the lives of people with depression, but this side effect can be more than a small inconvenience.

As Troy Bolton says, "Keep ya head in the game."

Though a happy sex life on SSRIs seems bleak, there are steps one can take to help the situation.

Mindfulness has been studied and proven to increase sexual satisfaction. Mindfulness is a mental exercise that involves bringing the mind’s awareness back into the present.

A mindfulness exercise may guide individuals to pay attention to their breathing or to simply notice the sounds within a room. Because a key aspect of sexual satisfaction lies in the ability to maintain a sense of awareness with the presence, mindfulness can help individuals focus on the pleasure right in front of them.

This could – in theory – counteract the negative sexual effects on SSRIs.

Bringing Sexy Back

While depression is a complex and multifaceted disorder, there are steps one can take to assuage some of the sexual symptoms. SSRIs remain incredibly beneficial in decreasing feelings of sadness but may cause a dip in libido.

Therefore, mindfulness exercises can play a key role in compensating for the effects of SSRIs – and the benefits of mindfulness extend beyond that.

While there is no guarantee for people who take SSRIs and practice mindfulness, these two actions are nonetheless steps towards a happy, healthy, and sexy life.

sciencesexual wellness
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About the Creator

Celina Calma

If your feminism isn't intersectional, what are you doing?

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