You may lose sexual satisfaction with antidepressants

Different medications for depression are readily available for anyone who experiences this illness. But what most of us do not know is that there are other antidepressants which will not be good for themselves. Many have overlooked side effects of these medications due to their eagerness of overcoming depression or helping someone get over it.

Example of this is the Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). This kind of anti-depressant is only acquired if prescribed by a doctor. SSRI contains serotonin levels which act as chemical neurotransmitters in the brain.

But this treatment may bring harm to someone who wrongly administers SSRI with other drugs or food which may increase the levels of blood and toxicity in the body. SSRIs also have side effects which are harmful. One of which is withdrawal-like symptoms in newborns for mothers who took the drug in her trimester. These symptoms include constant crying, shortness of breath, and feeding difficulty.

SSRIs will also increase the risk of sunburn or what we call photosensitivity, rashes, drowsiness, and impairment on the kidney or liver. 

Another reported side effect with this antidepressant is sexual dysfunction.  Research studies have found out that taking this drug will decrease the sex drive for men and women.   

SSRIs are found to cause delay in achieving orgasm in women and difficulties in ejaculation for men. Sexual dysfunction has been a common effect of SSRI but its specific incidence is not yet defined. But other antidepressants have also been reported to have sexual side effects such as TCSs, MAOIs, and dual-action antidepressants. 

Assess yourself: depressed or not?

Jonathan Davis, lead vocalist of metal rock band Korn said, “A lot of people don't realize that depression is an illness. I don't wish it on anyone, but if they would know how it feels, I swear they would think twice before they just shrug it.”

Depression can never be easy and simple as it can lead to something harmful, dangerous and worse, deadly. There are times that we can determine if a friend is undergoing depression. However, the question is: Can you also know if we are depressed? Are you capable enough to assess yourself with this illness?

The answer is ‘yes’ if you have enough will to admit that the sorrow you are feeling right now is going to a different level.

As defined by National Stress Test Clinic, it is a disturbance on one’s mood that takes place to mild sadness, moderate melancholy up to Major Depressive Disorder which is a serious condition of mental health.

Here are some guidelines to assess yourself if you are undergoing the state of depression.

First, ask yourself of many times you feel sad and what causes this sadness. Second, if you’re the competitive type of person, ask yourself if you get mad when you do not achieve the goals you set. Third, every time you wake up in the morning think whether there is something that you’ve been looking forward to or just merely waking up for the sake of it.

Lastly, ask yourself if there comes a time you think about death. This part is serious as it can lead to doing something that must not be done.

There are a lot of depression tests through the internet. If you desire for an accurate answer then you may take the test here.

Are you having depression?

It is okay to feel down sometimes after failing an exam, not getting hired with the job you want, losing a game or breaking up with your loved one. But feeling this despair for a long period of time may mean depression. And it isn’t just the feeling of blues, depression can make a person lock him/herself in the room, stop eating, and think tormenting thoughts. In one way, it creates an unhappy person. And in some other way, it means a more serious illness.

A depressed person will stop his or her interest on friends and hobbies. The person will feel exhausted and will have a hard time getting through the day. And although friends and family can help you move out from depression, you yourself can help cope with this serious state. 

The first thing you need to do is understand depression. Depression isn’t just sadness. You will feel severe symptoms like sleeplessness, feeling hopelessness and helpless, losing control over negative thoughts, loss appetite, having aggressive/reckless behaviour (usually with men), and having thoughts that life is not worth living. If the case is the last symptom, one should immediately seek doctor’s assistance.

If ever you know someone who is undergoing this problem, you should seriously take your friend or that family member to the doctor. Sometimes, these suicidal tendencies are not just wanting to cut off one’s life, more often, it is a cry for help.

People may have different symptoms and causes of depression, but once you feel a bit strange about yourself or with someone, it is safe to consult a professional help than be sorry in the end.