Keeping the Spark: Sex and Depression

Open, honest communication with your partner about what you are experiencing can help you both understand your feelings and limitations without blame or embarrassment. Loss of sexual desire and function is a normal symptom of depression and a common side-effect of psychotropic medications, and are not a comment on your partner’s desirability or skill. Laying a foundation of mutual understanding and empathy can provide a solid starting point to explore how you can work through sexual issues, meet each other’s needs, and enhance your intimacy.

Some antidepressant medications, such as SSRIs, are more likely to produce sexual side effects than others. If you are being negatively affected by low libido or anorgasmia, talk to your doctor about switching your medication, lowering your dose, or adding a medication that can counteract these unwanted side effects. Connecting with a treatment program that incorporates intensive psychotherapy may decrease your reliance on medication and give you a path to healing and emotional harmony that does not interfere with sexual function.

Physical exercise encourages endorphin production and improves circulation, enhancing your sexual desire and feelings of well-being. Increased blood flow to your sexual organs can heighten sex drive and the ability to both perform and experience sexual pleasure. A lesser-known effect of exercise is testosterone production; weight lifting increases testosterone levels and augments sexual urges in both men and women. Physical fitness can be an invaluable component of your overall depression treatment programand set the stage for increased desire and pleasure.

Non-sexual touch such as cuddling, hugging, and massage can be profoundly nourishing and increase both your bond with your partner and your sense of balance. Skin-on-skin contact has been found to alter brain chemistry to enhance your sense of belonging, somatic wellness, and emotional tranquility through the release of oxytocin. Studies reveal that massage therapy decreases cortisol levels while enhancing serotonin and dopamine production. Experiencing this form of intimacy with your partner can bring you closer while simultaneously providing relief from emotionally distressing symptoms and contributing to the establishment of greater psychological stability.