Dr. Swamy

Depression is typically characterized by hopelessness, sadness, demotivation, an indifference about life, and feeling discouraged. This is how depression is known to most people. Depression can manifest itself in various ways and in a surprising manner. Some of the symptoms of depression are more easy to recognize than others.

Depression and Its Consequences
Major depressive dysfunction is commonly referred to as “depression.” It’s a condition that causes a person to experience a depressed mood, lack of enjoyment in everyday life, or in some cases, both. Everyone experiences slump from time to time, but depression lasts longer. Some of the indications of depression include:

• Low energy levels
• Loss of appetite
• Trouble sleeping
• Weight loss or gain
• Feelings of sadness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Another indication correlated with depression is a change in sex drive.

Despite social stigma, depression is a pervasive state of illness. Chronic depression can affect every part of one’s daily life, and the activity of sexual intercourse is included. Depression tends to curb sex drive. Sexual intercourse can boost the mood and is essential for relationships however during the low phase; some depression medicines can control one's libido. Both women and men can face difficulties with inducting and experiencing sex due to depression. Still, there are some differences in the ways depression affects women and men.

Depression can affect one’s sex life
Depression stems from a chemical imbalance in the brain, and that shortcoming can cause interference with a person's ability to enjoy sex or perform sexually. Often couples go through separation in extreme cases that stems from depression affecting their conjugal relationship. Depression has been linked to:

1. A decrease in libido - According to research more than two-thirds of respondents reported a loss of interest in sex. There will be a decrease in their libido as their depression will grow more severe.
2. Erectile dysfunction - Anxiety and Depression are driving emotional factors preventing a man's experience to have and maintain an erection.
3. Inability to enjoy sex - Depression can limit or eliminate the pleasure drawn from sex.
4. Loss of interest - A general loss of interest in sex is the most common sign that depression is affecting one's sex life.
5. Other problems – These issues include, lowered sexual performance, having trouble getting sexually aroused, premature ejaculation, and not being able to reach orgasm during intercourse.

If one is depressed, one may feel like one doesn’t have enough energy for sex. Since depression can also cause a person to enjoy activities less, he/she may find that sex is not enjoyable as it used to be, and such a thought might give a sense of low self-esteem hampering the person’s personality and self-respect in a relationship. The process can also work in reverse. It’s possible for a low libido to trigger feelings of depression.
Hence, if you have been experiencing a unusually low libido, it is time you seek a doctor’s advice.

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