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Given that sexuality probably has more to do with the mind than the body, it is not surprising that sexual desire flags when the mind is biologically not in balance. As well, people generally have to feel good about themselves to feel sexually attractive.

By definition, depressed people categorically do not feel good about themselves, and low self-esteem is not conducive to good sexual relations. In a similar way, people who suffer from an anxiety disorder may be just as susceptible to their anxiety during intimacy as they are on their own, and anxiety and sex have never been good bedmates. During the acute part of a depressed or anxious state, the loss of sexual interest or function may be of concern only to the partner of the depressed person.

Once treatment begins to make people feel well again, though, the re-establishment of intimate relations becomes an important part of the emotional recovery process. This is where side effects of some of the antidepressant medications (which are also used to treat most of the anxiety disorders) may become critical. For reasons that may have something to do with serotonin acting as a sort of chemical "brake" on certain types of behavior, people taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) may find their interest in sex does not come back as mood improves.

Even if they are interested in having sex, the individual may experience problems associated with use of an SSRI, including problems reaching orgasm, erectile difficulties in the male, inadequate lubrication in the female, and other hindrances to a satisfying sex life. If people find that either their interest in sex or their ability to have sex is impaired, they should discuss this frankly with their doctor.

There are a number of other medications including Buspar (buspirone) which can be used to offset SSRI-related sexual side effects. Alternatively, people may try a different type of antidepressant that is less likely to cause sexual dysfunction.

The newer cyclic antidepressants, including Effexor (venlafaxine), Serzone (nefazodone) and Wellbutrin (bupropion) have all been associated with significantly less sexual dysfunction than the SSRIs.