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Sexual Depression

Most of the time, the individual who is suffering from sexually-related depression is not aware that it is sexually related. While females can suffer this problem, it is far more prevalent in the male and this is at its most noticeable after a prostatectomy, where he has been told that he will never achieve erection or ejaculation again.

This might at first seem as if it is simply related to the male obsession with sexual activity, yet it probably goes deeper than that. Whether they are male or female they are simply not responding to the second most powerful instinct of almost all animal life - procreation (survival being the major instinct). They are, therefore, surplus to requirements as far as sustaining the population is concerned, surplus to the requirements of their 'tribe'.

This idea is borne out by the fact that it is not just the male who suffers depression over lost sexuality; many females also enter a depressive state after a hysterectomy or post-menopause. The female seems to cope far better with it, though, probably because of the lower level of immediate urgency in her sexual psyche. There is an exception here, in women of childbearing age, when a hysterectomy before they have produced a child can be devastating.

The male who is suffering sexually related depression often feels better for a while after masturbating, though the improvement in mood does not usually last very long. In this case, he needs to evaluate the possibilities of being able to seek and find sexual gratification, perhaps by finding a 'sex partner' or even via visiting a prostitute. When it is not possible (because of physical incapacity) all he can do is work at acceptance and the discovery of a new role in life. Helping to hone a previously existent skill, or develop a new one, can be extremely therapeutic, especially if it could conceivably be useful to the community (his 'tribe') even if it is not actually so.

For the female the situation is somewhat different; it is not usually the lack of sex that is causing the depression but the absence of the ability to become pregnant. In this circumstance, acceptance is the only answer, of course. Most (not all) females have an instinctive urge to nurture so helping them to find some nurturing role in the community can often be effective. It is also worth the thought that, had she lived a while ago, she would have been greatly revered as an elder of the tribe and respected for her wisdom.

Sometimes, acceptance is easy to establish for either male or female; at other times it needs more work but in the case of depression related to either sexuality or procreation, it is usually the only answer.

It might be also helpful to read this article on Depression

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