Some studies indicate that 10% of people have post-sexual depression, it is an inexplicable feeling of sadness after sex, however, this situation has nothing to do with the way sexual intercourse developed, however pleasurable the person is. he finally feels depressed.
In fact, post-sexual depression is not considered a disorder or dysfunction or anything like that, in most cases it is nothing more than an emotional discomfort that makes no sense, however, if this condition is maintained for a long time, it may indicate a deeper problem.
“Lust deserves to be treated with pity and excuse when exercising to learn to love. “-Dante Alighieri-
So far, science has not fully understood why this emotional state occurs, there are several theories about it. It must also be said that none of them can explain all the cases. What applies to some people does not apply to others. Post-sexual depression can be caused by many factors.
The Journal of Sexual Health has published a study detailing the characteristics of post-sexual depression, which while may vary from person to person, the central element is the presence of a feeling of sadness, which appears shortly after the end of sexual intercourse. The feeling is defined as inexplicable because it does not correspond to the experienced pleasure.
The most common thing is that this state of sadness is maintained for a few minutes and then disappears without a trace, however, there are those who maintain this feeling for several hours, there are also cases of people who remain depressed for several days.
The experienced sensation is described as a kind of existential vacuum. There’s a urge to cry, but the person doesn’t know why. You also experience irritability, mood swings and a desire to isolate yourself.
According to Drs Brian Bird, Robert Schweitzer and Donald Strassberg, who have studied this subject thoroughly, there is a kind of hormonal revolution during sex; later, something like a sudden attempt at stabilization after the climax, this dynamic causes hormone levels to drop sharply. , favoring the onset of depression.
Dr. Richard A. Friedman, director of the psychopharmacology clinic at Weill Cornell Medical College, explains that during orgasm there is a sharp decrease in the activity of the cerebral amygdala, an area that has to do with the treatment of fear.
What happens then is that during sexual intercourse fear and all associated feelings are greatly reduced, after the climax the brain wants to quickly recover these feelings, since they are essential for survival, that is why there is a resurgence of these emotions, which which creates the strange feeling of emptiness.
Human beings are not just biology. What happens to us cannot be explained only in terms of hormones and neurotransmitters, if so, virtually all cases of post-sexual depression would be the same, however, it is known that there are important variations in this aspect. the subject also implies symbolic elements that translate into feelings.
Some psychologists have pointed out that the intensity of post-sexual depression is greater and more lasting in those who have mixed feelings about sex, sometimes feeling guilty about experiencing sexual pleasure, very restrictive parenting, or guilt-inducing personality traits.
Similarly, this feeling of depression can be caused by the inability to reach full orgasm. The person is frustrated and this is manifested by post-sexual depression.
As we have already pointed out, post-sexual depression is quite normal in most cases, it is known to have a slightly higher incidence in women, if this happens, but it dissipates within a few minutes, there is nothing to worry about.
The duration of this condition is a definite factor, as is the intensity, if it lasts a long time and is lived intensely, there are probably other underlying problems, this could only be the manifestation of a more severe state of depression and, in this case, it would require professional attention.
In the same way, if the sadness comes from unpleasant sex or from the attitude of the partner, depression becomes a warning sign of what is happening in the relationship, in this case it is better to go to a professional if the problem persists in time.