Studies show that they may have a negative reaction on the libido and for this reason many have avoided them. Despite this, however, being forced to choose between being down in the dumps and having a healthy sex life doesn’t have to leave you stuck between a rock and a (not so) hard place.
According to Hello Doctor, a SABC 2 television show hosted by Dr Michael Mol on health and medical advice, clinical depression can be classified as either mild, moderate or major and the common thread that runs through all three is that “simple things like getting dressed in the morning or eating can become a daunting task.” The symptoms of depression include persistent thoughts about suicide, self-harm or death, changes in your sleeping patterns and loss of appetite or over-eating. Lack of energy, difficulty concentrating and ongoing aches and pains are also listed. More symptoms are restlessness and moodiness, a sustained feeling of hopelessness and sadness, a loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyed, and feelings of guilt and worthlessness coupled with frequent crying spells. Dr Russell Thompson from Hello Doctor says, “Depression is an easily diagnosable and treatable condition, so the sooner you seek help for it the better.”
For some, help comes in the form of antidepressants. According to Drugs.com, the group of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) antidepressants include Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft and Celexa. Although SSRI antidepressants may lower the risk of adult suicide cases, they all can lead to sexual dysfunction.
Sexual dysfunction is defined as difficulty in performing sexually and is experienced by a person at any stage of normal sexual activity. This means that an individual may struggle to become sexually aroused, achieve orgasm, or may experience a decreased sex drive.
Much research has gone into the science behind sexual drive and depression, as well as how the two correlate. Dr Robert Phillips, an academic fellow and a clinical instructor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, and Dr James Slaughter, an associate professor of psychiatry and chief of psychosomatic medicine, both from the University of Missouri’s Columbia School of Medicine, have linked depression to a decreased libido. In an article titled “Depression and sexual desire”, they say that “Treating one condition frequently improves the other. Medications used to treat depression may decrease libido and sexual function.” Because of this they believe that “asking a depressed patient about libido and sexual function and tailoring treatment to minimise adverse effects on sexual function can significantly increase treatment compliance and improve the quality of the patient’s life.”
As many would agree, and in the words of HealthCentral.com, “it seems an unfair choice to make, our emotional wellbeing or our libido”. However, natural remedies can be used to get your libido back to normal.
The article “5 surprisingly effective all-natural aphrodisiacs (that you probably have in your kitchen)” on HowStuffWorks.com, written by Eric Leech, lists aphrodisiacs that can be found in a typical household. According to this article, the feel of corn starch on your skin can be a turn-on and so can eating tomatoes, which is referred to by many food experts as “the apple of love”. Another fruit which is said to be an aphrodisiac is avocado as “the high-quality vitamin E content of this super-food can boost the state of arousal and intensity [of your] orgasm.” Other aphrodisiacs include chocolate and cool buttermilk that is rubbed on your body.
A simple change of medication is another effective way in which you can increase your sex drive. A student at Tuks, who wishes to remain anonymous, spoke of her experience with Prozac and her change to Tegretol. “With the first prescription of pills that I was taking I felt sleepy all the time, my libido was low and so were [my] energy levels. I stopped taking those pills for a while and I did not take any other medication. My libido increased from having no sex to having sex three times a day. I then started taking Tegretol, which just balanced the chemical imbalances in my brain. My sex drive has gone back to normal,” she says.
Sex and antidepressants are a reality for many students and have been a source of happiness for respective reasons. There are those who have had to choose between one of the two. Yet, despite many estimations about not being able to manage depression as well as a healthy libido, it is apparent that students can be happy and have a balanced mind, body and soul.
Photo: Charlotte Bastiaanse
