I have depression and anxiety. These illnesses along with my medications can stifle my once ravenous sex drive. I want it back! I have found that acting "as if" has helped some. in other words, if i move forward as if i am in the mood, the activity ends up putting me in the mood. i am curious of anyone's experience and things they have tried.
sex and mental health issues
06/04/2009
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When I was younger I had this same problem. I was dealing with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The medication I was put on greatly lessened my sex drive and made it impossible for me to reach orgasm at all for several years, even through masturbation. I don't know what you are on, but there are other/new medications on the market that are supposed to have less effect on the quality of your sex life, but I, personally, have no experience in that area. The only thing that helped me in the end was coming off of medication all together and since then I've been so much better, but this is not the right step for everyone.
Talk to whoever proscribes you the medications about your lack of sex drive and your concern/dissatisfactio n. It's routine now for this to be a topic of discussion as so many people are affected, and they should have better advice/options for you. Best of luck to you!
Talk to whoever proscribes you the medications about your lack of sex drive and your concern/dissatisfactio n. It's routine now for this to be a topic of discussion as so many people are affected, and they should have better advice/options for you. Best of luck to you!
06/04/2009
I had severe postpartum depression so was put on a few different medications to help me find the right one. It took communication between me and my provider to find the right one- you have to say, "hey doc, I feel better but my sex life is suffering" and they'll listen. That's what they're there for, there are so many different medications on the market and your Primary Care Physician should be able to help you find the right one that both makes you feel better and doesn't make your sex life suffer.
06/04/2009
I also dealt with depression for several years after the death of my mom. The medication I was on made me have NO desire for sex at all. Thank goodness hubby was understanding and patient with me. I too was able to come off my medicine and have done much better. Now, the hormones just go crazy!
But, don't stop your medications without your doctor knowing about it. Most of the medicines used for mental health have to be tapered down espcially if you have been on them for a long time. Talk to you doctor and tell him of your concerns. There are a lot of new medications out and he/she can tell you if some of these will help you.
Good luck and hope you find something that works well for you!!
But, don't stop your medications without your doctor knowing about it. Most of the medicines used for mental health have to be tapered down espcially if you have been on them for a long time. Talk to you doctor and tell him of your concerns. There are a lot of new medications out and he/she can tell you if some of these will help you.
Good luck and hope you find something that works well for you!!
06/04/2009
I hear Ginkgo Biloba helps normalize the sexual side effects.
06/04/2009
I'm actually having this problem right now. I am on an antidepressant that has pretty much killed my sex drive. I went from having sex maybe every other day to every two or three weeks. It really sucks. My problem is that I've been on other meds before that didn't do anything for my depression, but this one actually works, so I don't want to stop taking it or try another one. My doctor pretty much agreed with me. Hmm. Maybe I should have made a bigger deal about the lack of sex drive bothering me and gone ahead and tried something else. Oh well. But yeah. Definitely talk to your doctor.
06/04/2009
I actually blogged about this topic this week. According to studies, upwards of 70% of people on antidepressants experience some kind of sexual dysfunction, usually in the form of lowered sex drive.
06/04/2009
Quote:
While my sex drive was destroyed by hormone therapy instead of mental health medications, I can tell you from my neuroscience background that some of the mechanisms by which they kill the sex drive are similar or shared.
Originally posted by
cum here
I have depression and anxiety. These illnesses along with my medications can stifle my once ravenous sex drive. I want it back! I have found that acting "as if" has helped some. in other words, if i move forward as if i am in the mood, the
...
more
I have depression and anxiety. These illnesses along with my medications can stifle my once ravenous sex drive. I want it back! I have found that acting "as if" has helped some. in other words, if i move forward as if i am in the mood, the activity ends up putting me in the mood. i am curious of anyone's experience and things they have tried.
less
Taking of my scientist hat, I definitely agree that acting as if worked the same way for me. Another thing that helped was setting up a routine before sex, so that you start responding earlier. (basically, it's still the same waiting time until you feel in the mood, but you're starting the "as if" cues before you start canoodling) I'd put on a certain perfume, put out and light certain candles, put on lingerie, etc.
It kind of became a form of foreplay, so that by the time we hopped into bed, I wouldn't have to pretend for as long before the engine got going. If you can switch onto another medication that does the job without killing your sex drive, great! But this isn't always an option, as others have said. Hopefully you can find one that gives you the best of both worlds!
06/04/2009
Did you ever consider seeing a licensed, certified (as in one who has a doctorate in) hypnotist? The past year I lost my parents, changed jobs to a lower paying more dissapointing one, and had surgery and chemo for cancer. I developed depression and anxiety. The drugs just made me feel "not my self". I did hypnotherapy and the result was amazing! Some people do have medical conditions where maintainence drugs are necessary (bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia etc, but ADD, anxiety, PTSD,depression, somatoform disorders can all benefit from hypnosis if the effects of drugs are intolerable. And no side effects like weight gain, dry mouth or tremor.
06/09/2009
Quote:
I also have depression and anxiety, and am on Anti Depressants.
Originally posted by
cum here
I have depression and anxiety. These illnesses along with my medications can stifle my once ravenous sex drive. I want it back! I have found that acting "as if" has helped some. in other words, if i move forward as if i am in the mood, the
...
more
I have depression and anxiety. These illnesses along with my medications can stifle my once ravenous sex drive. I want it back! I have found that acting "as if" has helped some. in other words, if i move forward as if i am in the mood, the activity ends up putting me in the mood. i am curious of anyone's experience and things they have tried.
less
For the first month or so, my usually ferocious sex drive upped and left. Personally, I was lucky, in that it returned with vigour and I now have a better sex life than before I started the meds.
Reason being is I'm naturally fairly kinky and a sub - before the meds I didn't have the confidence a lot of the time, my worries would kick in and override my desire to be dominated with the fear of.. well, lots of things. Looking horrible was probably the biggest one. So it interfered with a lot of our play. Not so much now!
04/07/2010
Quote:
I have the same problem... I have good and bad days. I'm still trying to deal with it.
Originally posted by
cum here
I have depression and anxiety. These illnesses along with my medications can stifle my once ravenous sex drive. I want it back! I have found that acting "as if" has helped some. in other words, if i move forward as if i am in the mood, the
...
more
I have depression and anxiety. These illnesses along with my medications can stifle my once ravenous sex drive. I want it back! I have found that acting "as if" has helped some. in other words, if i move forward as if i am in the mood, the activity ends up putting me in the mood. i am curious of anyone's experience and things they have tried.
less
08/19/2010
I've not had depression - but I'm not at all surprised to hear that mind-altering chemicals can destroy your libido - I think 90% of sex is mental - your brain is your biggest sex organ!
I have been able to get my wife's sex-drive to go up a notch by asking her to get involved in planning sexual encounters. The act of mentally deciding the what when where and especially the how - get's your mind into the game.
It brings in the old saying - 'The anticipation is killing me!' Anticipating implies wanting sexual fulfillment - it's worked wonders for us.
I have been able to get my wife's sex-drive to go up a notch by asking her to get involved in planning sexual encounters. The act of mentally deciding the what when where and especially the how - get's your mind into the game.
It brings in the old saying - 'The anticipation is killing me!' Anticipating implies wanting sexual fulfillment - it's worked wonders for us.
08/19/2010
I have had an anxiety disorder since I was 12, which now that I'm 22, you can imagine has caused me to feel depressed regarding many things. I've always been nervous that the drugs I'm on will effect my sex drive. I went up on Zoloft a few weeks ago and was especially anxious of the side effects. Surprisingly, finding just the right measure of dosage to be on, I am quite happy with my sex drive again.
Now, it isn't perfect but I notice when I'm up close with my partner, smelling the pheromones, closing my eyes and feeling the touch...oh boy! The tingles come back, the warm feelings emerge and I'm ready to get down to business!
My best advice is to be completely open and try closing your eyes and having your partner explore your body. If you start to feel those warm fuzzies, keep going. If your mind or chemicals are keeping you from going further, stop. It is best to ease into it and you may be surprised at the results when you are ready to let go!
Now, it isn't perfect but I notice when I'm up close with my partner, smelling the pheromones, closing my eyes and feeling the touch...oh boy! The tingles come back, the warm feelings emerge and I'm ready to get down to business!
My best advice is to be completely open and try closing your eyes and having your partner explore your body. If you start to feel those warm fuzzies, keep going. If your mind or chemicals are keeping you from going further, stop. It is best to ease into it and you may be surprised at the results when you are ready to let go!
08/29/2010
Quote:
I had to try a lot of antidx to help my depression and anxiety issues. None of them dulled my sex drive, but Prozac and Tofranil made it difficult to Come. I refused to take them, adn the doc (and I had to go to his superior, because the first doctor was not taking my side effect seriously) was good and put me on Zoloft.
Originally posted by
MissLustCaution
I have had an anxiety disorder since I was 12, which now that I'm 22, you can imagine has caused me to feel depressed regarding many things. I've always been nervous that the drugs I'm on will effect my sex drive. I went up on Zoloft a
...
more
I have had an anxiety disorder since I was 12, which now that I'm 22, you can imagine has caused me to feel depressed regarding many things. I've always been nervous that the drugs I'm on will effect my sex drive. I went up on Zoloft a few weeks ago and was especially anxious of the side effects. Surprisingly, finding just the right measure of dosage to be on, I am quite happy with my sex drive again.
Now, it isn't perfect but I notice when I'm up close with my partner, smelling the pheromones, closing my eyes and feeling the touch...oh boy! The tingles come back, the warm feelings emerge and I'm ready to get down to business!
My best advice is to be completely open and try closing your eyes and having your partner explore your body. If you start to feel those warm fuzzies, keep going. If your mind or chemicals are keeping you from going further, stop. It is best to ease into it and you may be surprised at the results when you are ready to let go! less
Now, it isn't perfect but I notice when I'm up close with my partner, smelling the pheromones, closing my eyes and feeling the touch...oh boy! The tingles come back, the warm feelings emerge and I'm ready to get down to business!
My best advice is to be completely open and try closing your eyes and having your partner explore your body. If you start to feel those warm fuzzies, keep going. If your mind or chemicals are keeping you from going further, stop. It is best to ease into it and you may be surprised at the results when you are ready to let go! less
I've been on Zoloft for...(OMG) a decade or more and it had not effected my sex drive nor my ability to orgasm. (Perimenopause increased my sex drive and made it harder to come, but it wasn't from drugs, I don't think. Not after so long on this drug.
If a drug effect libido or desire or effects orgasm, tall your doctor. If he or she doesn't care, find a new doctor.
I find, when I am depressed or anxious, NOTHING is better for this problem than sex.
08/29/2010
I have anxiety, depression, ptsd, and bipolar. With how my mood goes in ever direction I am hardly in the mood for sex half of the time. That is the reason we are bring toys and other new routines in the bedroom, to liven it up. My partner and I are only 25/26 so we are both young. So, mental health does effect our sex life.
10/03/2010
b
so...communication with an understanding and empathetic partner. I have found that while being with someone who also has psychological problems makes for much chaos, it also allows empathy. Others just don't truly understand no matter how hard they try.
carefully consider medication changes.
spice it up, talk with your partner about trying new things, they should help by taking the initiative to take steps to get you in the mood. with no pressure of course.
work on it on your own as well...fantasize, try to find what helps your feel sexy, maybe porn if you are into it...all about finding your style of porn. read erotica. toys! basically work to put sex on your mind, and the mood may follow. write sexy stories. do something sexual that doesn't have to lead to sex, like a sexy photo shoot night.
don't be hard on yourself and know that it fluctuates.
so...communication with an understanding and empathetic partner. I have found that while being with someone who also has psychological problems makes for much chaos, it also allows empathy. Others just don't truly understand no matter how hard they try.
carefully consider medication changes.
spice it up, talk with your partner about trying new things, they should help by taking the initiative to take steps to get you in the mood. with no pressure of course.
work on it on your own as well...fantasize, try to find what helps your feel sexy, maybe porn if you are into it...all about finding your style of porn. read erotica. toys! basically work to put sex on your mind, and the mood may follow. write sexy stories. do something sexual that doesn't have to lead to sex, like a sexy photo shoot night.
don't be hard on yourself and know that it fluctuates.
02/08/2011
Quote:
I to have had depression, and got over it. I also still have anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The medication I am on does not help my sexual hormones so I am slowly taking myself off the medication and going to try another type.
Originally posted by
cum here
I have depression and anxiety. These illnesses along with my medications can stifle my once ravenous sex drive. I want it back! I have found that acting "as if" has helped some. in other words, if i move forward as if i am in the mood, the
...
more
I have depression and anxiety. These illnesses along with my medications can stifle my once ravenous sex drive. I want it back! I have found that acting "as if" has helped some. in other words, if i move forward as if i am in the mood, the activity ends up putting me in the mood. i am curious of anyone's experience and things they have tried.
less
08/10/2011
Talk to you MD about this. If that MD is unresponsive or dismissive, find a different one. You're the boss your doctor works for you. If he/she is doing a poor job fire him/her.
08/10/2011
Quote:
Very true
Originally posted by
Femme Mystique
I hear Ginkgo Biloba helps normalize the sexual side effects.
10/12/2011
Total posts: 19
Unique posters: 18