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Depression and Erectile Dysfunction: what’s the connection?

Depression and Erectile Dysfunction: what’s the connection?

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Introduction

In today’s world, been depressed is one of the most common symptom found in adults. As per reports, one in every ten American adults is been associated with depression in one way or other. Depression is a kind of mental disorder that almost every person has to go through at some point in their lifetime. But the question is, can depression have any impact on your sexual health?

What is a Depression?

Depression is basically a common but serious mental disorder, medically termed as Major Depressive Disorder which negatively affects a person’s way of thinking, how the person feels and behaves. This mental disorder is different from mood fluctuations. In addition to causing emotional and physical problems, it can also make it difficult for you to function at work and at home.

Despite the existence of effective treatments for mental disorders, more than 75% of people in low- and middle-income countries do not receive any treatment. There are several barriers to effective mental health care, including a lack of resources, a lack of trained health-care providers, and social stigma associated with mental illness. People with depression in countries of all income levels are frequently misdiagnosed and prescribed antidepressants even when they do not have the disorder.

Symptoms of depression

In a depressive episode, the individual experiences significant difficulties in personal, family, social, educational, occupational, and/or other important areas. The symptoms generally differs in terms of severity and natured which is based on individual occupation, gender, and age group. Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include:

  • Changes in appetite
  • Loss of energy or increased fatigue
  • Increase in purposeless physical activity or slowed movements or speech
  • weight loss or weight gain
  • Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
  • Feeling sad or having a depressed mood
  • Feeling worthless or guilty
  • Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions
  • Thoughts of death or suicide
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed

Furthermore, medical conditions such as thyroid problems, brain tumors, and vitamin deficiencies can mimic depression symptoms, so it is important to rule out general medical causes.

Triggering events

Events which triggers an individual’s emotional, psychological, or physical events or circumstances that can cause depression symptoms to appear or return are generally categorized as tiggering events. Some of the most general and major triggering events include:

  • The loss of a loved one, the conflict within the family, and the change of a relationship are stressful events in life
  • Recovery from depression is incomplete when depression treatment is stopped too early
  • An illness or medical crisis, such as a new diagnosis or chronic disease such as diabetes or heart disease.


What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction is basically a disorder found in men which could be a sign of physical or psychological condition. The symptoms associated with this disorder is found in men’s reproductive organ i.e. inability to keep an erection firmer and longer enough during a sexual activity.

Erectile dysfunction is a treatable disorder which includes many possible methods such as natural remedies, alternative medicine, and prescription drugs. In this article, let us discuss about some faster ways to treat this disorder.

There are many men who experience erectile dysfunction occasionally because of stress, fatigue, alcohol, or emotional issues, but 25% of men have recurring episodes of the disorder. People dealing with erectile dysfunction will be:

  • Unable to achieve erection at anytime needed.
  • might achieve erection sometime but not when needed like during sexual activity.
  • might able to achieve erection when needed but not long enough

Depression and erectile dysfunction

Ever wonder whether depression and Erectile dysfunction is linked? The answer is 100% YES.

  • A study found that middle-aged men who have depression symptoms are nearly twice as likely to report ED as men who don’t have depression symptoms.
  • There is a bidirectional relationship between depression and erectile dysfunction, according to experts. In other words, it flows both ways, and can cause a negative spiral in which each condition makes the other worse.

It has even been suggested in another review that depressed men should be routinely screened for ED – and vice versa, depressed men should also be screened for ED. The purpose of including this isn’t to make you worry, and it’s also important to note that getting an ED doesn’t always mean getting depressed. Our goal is to emphasize that taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your erections.

How can depression cause erectile dysfunction?

Many different symptoms are associated with depression, from fatigue and brain fog to numbness, persistent sadness, and (as we now know) erectile dysfunction. The effects of all of these can lower your sex drive (libido) and interfere with your ability to reach orgasm for some men (and women).

Erectile dysfunction can be caused by many different kinds of depression. Some of them include:

  • Feeling down for more than two weeks
  • The condition of depression (which is often associated with anxiety)
  • Feelings of sadness and loss of interest in things you once enjoyed (major depression)
  • Manic depression, formerly known as bipolar disorder, is characterized by periods of extreme highs and lows.
  • The possibility of postnatal depression is not limited to women. Yes, men can suffer from depression after having a child too.
  • During the dark, winter months, Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD occurs.

How can erectile dysfunction cause depression?

As mentioned before, there are a number of causes of Erectile dysfunction. This includes both physical as well as psychological. However, regardless of the reason that caused you ED, men dealing with Ed be it temporary have psychological and social conditions such as:

  • Separated from others
  • Disrupted
  • Concerned
  • The feeling of frustration and anger
  • trouble in a relationship
  • lost focus
  • decrease in self esteem and responsible.

As we can see, these feelings and though are not something that just stay under a circumference. They have enough potential to impact you mind causing depression when left unchecked.

Complementary treatment options for ED and depression.

It is a general professional advise to start with some changes in lifestyle to counter such condition. Other treatments such as medications and appropriate surgeries could come later on if needed. Although these are some of the very effective options to counter depression and ED, there are many choices of change in lifestyle with no side effects.

  • Talking therapies like couple counseling
  • sleep prioritizing
  • avoiding drugs, alcohol, and any such substances.
  • physical activity such as exercise
  • Yoga for mental peace and development
  • socializing with family and friends
  • a good and healthy diet
  • avoid social media and limiting the screen time, etc.

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