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Sex and Depression

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So what can you do to have a happier sex life? Treat the depression first. Visit our page on depression self help to get started. Sometimes, making a few simple changes to your food and exercise habits, as well as changing your attitude towards your body, could be the impetus you need to improve your intimate life dramatically.

1. Diet

Eating a balanced, nutritious diet will not only make you look healthier and feel better, it will increase your happiness levels, lift your self-esteem and boost your body confidence. Since depression saps your libido, serotonin-rich foods that increase feel-good hormones in the brain are vital for health and happiness ~ and for getting you in the mood for love.

When deciding what to put in your mouth, keep the following in mind:

1. Depression is linked to low levels of omega-3s, which are found in oily fish, and selenium and tryptophan, which are found in lean chicken and turkey, milk, pulses, almonds, walnuts, figs, and bananas.

There are also links to low levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid, found in whole grains.

2. If your depression is accompanied by feelings of anxiety, it could be partly due to a lack of magnesium and/or folic acid. The best sources of magnesium are nuts and green leafy vegetables, which are also good sources of folic acid, as are pulses, wholemeal breads, brown rice and bananas.

3. If you find yourself feeling apathetic and lacking in motivation, you may be deficient in zinc. Increase your intake with mussels, almonds, walnuts, cashews, chickpeas, baked beans, broccoli, hard cheese, lamb, pork and chicken. It could also be due to a lack of tyrosine, which is found in turkey, chicken, liver, cheese, yeast extract, soy sauce, tomatoes and bananas.

2. Exercise

Exercise is a wonderful mood booster. It's well known that it releases feel-good endorphins (exactly the kind of stuff you need when you're depressed), but it also gets you into better physical shape, which makes you feel better about your body and therefore more comfortable and confident between the sheets.

Some of the best exercises you can do to enhance your intimate life include power walking, jogging and cycling, as well as deep stretching practices that increase blood flow to the buttocks, pelvis and groin area. Yoga in particular increases circulation to the genitals and as a result, rekindles low libido, sexual arousal and orgasmic function.

3. Self-Care

When you're feeling depressed, chances are that you're not taking very good care of your body. Small details can make a big difference, so spoil yourself with a bikini wax, a leisurely massage or a pedicure. Keep your skin hydrated and soft with regular exfoliation and scented body lotions.

If your body-image needs a little lift, turn off the bright overhead lights in the bedroom and use lamps and candles for a soft, romantic mood. Remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and once in bed with a lover, your physical flaws are the last thing on his mind!

(From Sex and Depression back to Depression Self Help) (From Sex and Depression back to Depression Self Help Home Page)

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Mia Rose :)