Posted by jda1292 on July 12, 2002, at 22:58:16
In reply to Re: no sex drive anymore, posted by OldSchool on February 10, 2002, at 19:53:40
"I dont think you had real depression to begin with...you had what I call "Woody Allen" depression. Self esteem problems, dysthymia, situational depression, etc. "
You are a riot!!!
I had panic disorder so pad 6 years ago I could barely drive to work on back country roads! At that point in time I would have traded me 'John Thomas' for relief!, actually me 'twig and berries' What good is sex if you feel like dying?
I have a loving faithful wife that is not sex crazed and enjoys it a couple times a month. She enjoys it and so do I! It was tough with Paxil, but she loved to watch me suffer for an hour in bed while she got the rock hard weenie. Ejaculation was a problem, but if you keep at it, mine always worked.
I consider this good considering I have an 8 year old and a 5 year old.
I think a lot of people have 'Woody Allen' depression and anxiety, for I would give you my left nut rather than have a bad panic attack. Thank God for the drugs!
> > Well, I don't know your condition or what you're taking but I hear you cuz I been there done that.
> >
> > I will not tolerate sexual side effects with these drugs (it isn't a matter of whether I can or not -- I simply WILL not). I've been down the Paxil and Zoloft roads (forget Prozac) and found that for me the loss of sexual function exacerbated my depression GREATLY, while the drug's "benefit" was simply to flatten out my personality and mood. This is called "Turning Into A Zombie."
>
>
> You must not have real clinical depression then. Id gladly trade my left nut for a drug that blasted me out of clinical depression. I could care less if it caused delayed ejaculation in me, just so long as it actually worked good at achieving remission.
>
> I only care about REAL drug side effects like EPS, TD, neuroleptic induced parkinsons, MAOI hypertensive crises, etc. etc. etc. The typical SSRI side effects like weight gain, headaches, nausea, sexual dysfunction etc. seem like wussy trivial side effects to me after what Ive been thru.
>
> >
> > The loss of sexual function made me more frustrated than I had been, made me isolate because I was ashamed I couldn't "function" anymore, and the damage from those months and years of trying these drugs have taken their toll on my self-esteem.
>
> I dont think you had real depression to begin with...you had what I call "Woody Allen" depression. Self esteem problems, dysthymia, situational depression, etc.
>
> >Today the meds I take are not supposed to have sexual side effects, and yet I still have difficulties -- which are no doubt the aftermath of being put through the ringer with drugs that adversely affect sexual function, along with the original and continuing effects of the depression.
> >
>
> Again...to someone who has had the real deal...severe clinical depression these sorts of side effects mean diddly.
>
> > I know you're joking about the hooker (maybe not), and it's good to see you're trying to make light of the problem through humor, but the long term psychological damage sexual dysfunction can have on you is NOT GOOD.
>
> Neither is having major depression longterm...does weird and bad things to your body and health.
>
> >
> > Advice that was given me and which I pass along is:
> >
> > Talk to your doctor about getting OFF the meds you are on that are robbing you of your sex drive OR see whether you can add a med that makes you more spunky (i.e., the side effects of one drug that offsets the side effects of another drug. Serzone was quoted me as one drug that can offset sexual side effects in other drugs, for example...WB is anot supposed to adversely affect sex drive, etc.
>
> I agree, those with milder depressions would probably be better off trying to fix it without drugs.
>
> >
> > Naturally it depends on what is wrong with you, what you have tried before and what does and doesn't work for your condition (we all respond differently to different drugs and as much as the docs know about the meds they are still in the dark about plenty -- hence we are all our own guinea pigs). If sexual side effects are bothering you even a little you have to take that seriously and demand your pdoc look into and discuss with you every other treatment possibility available for your condition.
> >
> > A lot has to do with diet and exercise, too. Exercise especially. Most of us are sitting on our beee-hinds typing away on this BB when we could be getting a half hour of aerobic exercise (even just fast walking). I know that's a big issue for me, one which definitely also affects my capacity to function sexually. I bet most of us with depression don't exercise nearly enough, and if we did we might be able to take less meds to get enough benefit and deal with less side effects. Just a thought my doc passed along to me.
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> Exercise can really help mild depression probs.
>
> >
> > For men especially to be robbed of their sexual identity (being relegated to the status of eunuch) is perhaps the most discouraging and underrated liability of taking psychotropic medications which adversely affect sex drive. Whether it's right or wrong, many men equate their intrinsic self worth with their ability to "rise" to various sexual occasions (so to speak). That aspect of man isn't going to change. It is, however, up to each of us to work with our doctors to find solutions to our conditions that do not emasculate us.
> >
> > Sex is one of the easiest things to find in this world if you really want it. There are plenty of people who are willing to have sex for a price, infinitely more who would be willing to do so "recreationally" if approached with respect and honesty. Not isolating and making ourselves available to potential partners is part of the problem also. We can sit on a BB and type away and not be "out there" meeting people. Incidentally, as soon as I finish typing this, I'm outa here to head up to the local watering hole and see if I get lucky. It takes forcing yourself to be social, or else go to a strip club and get a lap dance, or whatever. But don't isolate. Perhaps the worst thing about drugs that rob us of our sexual abilities is that we are even denied the ability to masturbate.
>
> >
> > It's our choice whether we take the drugs prescribed for us and when we find the sexual side effects ruining us, our responsibility to take action. Believe me, I know -- I learned the "hard" way (bad pun).
> >
> > ethan
>
> All the women I meet are super horny and Im not. Its the depression, not the drugs. The drugs dont work good in me, so the best I ever get is about 30%. I used to have a sex drive, it kind of came back some on Wellbutrin. Remeron was good for sex too. It got real strong again for a few days on Amantadine here recently. But overall my sex drive is gone. Women dont want to be involved with a depressed guy with no sex drive. Honestly, I think women are the real sex fiends, not men. LOL I wish I could keep up with them but Im just worn out physically and mentally. Im 33 and feel like 83.
>
> Old School
poster:jda1292
thread:91928
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020709/msgs/112173.html