Health Tips

Do you feel sad or cry a lot? Are guilt, dejection, lethargy and mood swings all too commonplace in your life? Have you lost interest in activities, hobbies or life in general? Most importantly, do you often think about bungee jumping without a bungee cord? If so, then you’re not a happy camper. But you’re certainly not alone in the woods; you may be clinically depressed, which increases your chances of impotence dramatically.

Depression is the fourth leading public health problem in the world. Unfortunately, a comparatively small number of people is actually diagnosed and treated for this ailment. Given the stigma our societies place on mental illness, many are ashamed to admit they may be suffering from such a condition. Also, depression is very complex. Its symptoms, both physical and psychological, vary greatly among sufferers, making it tricky to diagnose accurately.

Of course we all feel sad sometimes; it’s natural. However, if this sadness is recurring, lasts for periods of two or more weeks at a time, and is accompanied by physical disorders, then it’s time to consult a doctor. You may be suffering from clinical depression.

While depression may have genetic and environmental components, from a physiological standpoint it boils down to biochemical imbalances in the brain. If left untreated, these imbalances result in varying degrees of emotional distress, which interferes with personal relations and job performance, and leads to many other illnesses. Chief among these are ulcers, sleep problems, aches and pains, excessive weight gain/loss and hypertension. Such conditions in turn frequently contribute to impotence.

Psychologically, depression can have a tremendous impact on your sex life. Negative feelings such as sadness, anger, frustration and low self-esteem go part and parcel with depression. When these feelings dominate your life, maintaining normal relationships becomes difficult at best. More specifically, the incredible physical and mental strains that depression causes usually lead to a loss of interest in sex. How can you have a normal sex life if you’re not even interested in sex?

The good news is that depression is a very treatable disease. Successful treatment usually consists of prescribed medication combined with talk therapy from a mental health professional. The drugs used, such as Prozac, Celexa and Paxil, are anti-depressants that target the biochemical imbalances causing the depression. Overall, they are quite effective – approximately two-thirds of patients who take them respond positively.

The not-so-good news is that many of these medications cause sexual dysfunction as a side effect. Though varied among patients, the two most common reactions are delayed orgasm and decreased libido. Few men actually experience impotence itself as a direct result of anti-depressants, but any sexual dysfunction, especially when exacerbated by severe emotional stress, has a good chance of leading to real impotence.

So what do you do? As with many types of medication, it’s kind of a Catch-22 that we have to live with. However, with the right attitude and proper lifestyle habits (like eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly) you can reduce the symptoms of the depression itself, which will then reduce the need to even take such medication.

Above all, don’t isolate yourself. Go out and do things, especially with other people. Take a walk with your dog; go to a museum, check out a comedy. Who knows, you might even meet someone special who turns your life around. Love and laughter really are the best medicines!