Penis Sensation Loss and Depression - The Effects of Mood Disorders on Sexual Health
For many men - and women - depression can be severely debilitating, affecting all aspects of life. Even sexual health can fall victim to symptoms of depression, unless the sufferer seeks help and takes the appropriate steps to improve both the emotional and physical symptoms. For men, this can mean adding some extra steps to their penis care routine.
What is depression?
More than just "the blues" or a period of feeling sad, depression is an actual illness that results primarily from chemical imbalances in the brain. People who are depressed are not mentally ill; they are suffering from a disease, like diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, and other disorders that affect the body. Fortunately, modern medicine is well-equipped to deal with depression and other similar mood disorders, and those who seek help often find themselves feeling much better in a short space of time.
What are the common symptoms?
Depression affects a person physiologically, as well as mentally, and the symptoms can be far-reaching. Some of the most common include:
- Feelings of intense sadness;
- Feeling worthless;
- Loss of enjoyment in activities that were once pleasurable;
- Loss of sex drive;
- In men - loss of penis sensation;
- Fatigue;
- Body aches and pains;
- Thoughts of suicide;
- Feeling isolated and alone;
- Feeling as if one is inside a "bubble," or a sense of unreality and disconnectedness;
- Irritability;
- Loss of appetite or overeating;
- A feeling that one is dying.
Any of these symptoms can have a serious effect on a person’s quality of life. Anyone experiencing one or more of these for more than a 2-week period should seek treatment as soon as possible. It can be difficult for depression sufferers to seek help for a number of reasons; the feeling of hopelessness can cause a person to believe that help is not possible, and many individuals also find it difficult to acknowledge that they may be depressed. However, in today’s world, there is far less stigma attached to depression than in the past, and there is no reason to feel weak or ashamed. Depression is a chemical imbalance, not a sign of mental weakness, and it is a treatable condition.
Treating depression
Treatment of depression varies depending on the patient, the severity and type of symptoms, and other medical conditions that may also be present. In general, a regimen of talk therapy, often accompanied by antidepressant medications, is recommended.
Patients with depression are encouraged to engage in healthy activities such as physical exercise - which can improve mood in the short term by elevating "feel-good" neurotransmitters, as well as increasing a person’s self-confidence and self-esteem over the long term. Making good food choices can also help, as certain healthy foods can naturally boost the mood, while other items - such as alcohol and certain food additives - can actually contribute to feelings of depression.
Side effects of antidepressants
Antidepressant medications are generally well-tolerated, although they can cause a few side effects when the patient first begins taking them. The most common of these include dry mouth, headache, nausea and upset stomach, confusion and loss of sex drive.
For men, a loss of sex drive and accompanying penis sensation loss can be particularly problematic, and it may take some experimenting (under medical supervision) to find a medication that will not interfere with a man’s sex life. After all, sexual health can be an important aspect of a man’s recovery, as the hormones that result from climax are known for enhancing the mood.
Promoting Penis Sensation - TLC for the Penis
When depression rears its head, even simple tasks like personal hygiene can seem like an enormous undertaking, but taking care can actually help to lift some of the gloom. The sensation of pampering oneself can actually help an individual to feel better.
Taking a warm bath, complete with pleasant bath oils, cleansers and candles can set a relaxing mood that can relieve stress and elevate levels of neurotransmitters like dopamine, which are natural mood lifters. Grooming and trimming body hair can also help a man to feel cleaner and more attractive. Smoothing on a penis health cream (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil) following a bath can leave the skin feeling soft and supple, and men who have been experiencing a decrease in sexual desire may feel the impulse returning as a result of improved sensation. As the moisturizers and nutrients work on the penile skin, they also leave it looking healthier and more attractive, a sure boost to a man’s self-esteem.
