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Depression and Sex MARKHAM HEID
from Her Rebirth
One of the hallmark symptoms of depression is something mental health experts call “anhedonia.” In a nutshell, anhedonia is a loss of interest or enjoyment in stuff you used to enjoy. And for a lot of depressed men, that includes sex.
“When men are depressed, their self-esteem is down and their motivation is down and their libido may be down,” says Ian Kerner, PhD, a licensed psychotherapist and sex counselor. Any or all of these issues could interfere with your interest in sex or your ability to perform.
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“When you look at sex, it’s basically about things that excite and arouse you,” Kerner says. Depression, meanwhile, is a condition that inhibits excitement and arousal. So it’s no wonder depression and sex don’t mix. He adds that some popular antidepressant medications— namely, SSRIs—can lower libido and interfere with sexual function. So depression may be kneecapping your romantic life in a lot of different ways. Here’s a look at a few of them.
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