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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
antidepressants
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
antidepressants
by richard22, May 17, 2004 12:00AM
I'm a 26 year old male that was recently diagnosed with mild OCD. To give you some backround on myslef. I've always been somewhat of a worrier. In college I worried about grades. After college it was my career and succeeding. These obsessions ussualy went away when I saw my grade or had a success in business. Now I've found something that has worried me more than anything. My first significant or serious relationship. After a bad night sexually w/ my g-friend after a month of dating or so I developed performance anxiety and almost lost interest in sex completly. In responce to my inabilty to achieve erections on a consistant basis I started taking Viagra which helped but I didn't want to depend on it. After the physical side was clear it was determined that my problem was pshyological and I started seeing a thearpist. It seems I lost interest sex and woman in general for a while and became depressed for that reason. Although I've been able to have sex w/out Viagra I developed obsessions. I beat myself up wondering why I'm not attracted to women like I used to be and one day I started thinking I must be gay then. Although I never had any thoughts before like this I can't stop thinking about it and the thought of it causes me great anxiety. I also am confused and worry about my girlfriend. One day I love her and the next day I'm not sure. These constant thoughts and unpredictability have made me depressed. My thearpist assured me that I'm not gay and it is ocd, a thought that I can;t stop at times and causes me anxiety. What do you think about what I'm saying? He thinks I may need medication but I'm reluctant b/c of sexual side effects. Afterall that's the very reason all this started and I'm afraid that may make me even more depressed. Are any drugs better than others for sexual side effects? I'd be just as interested in what you have to say about what I've been going through mentally as the medications suggestons. Is what I'm going through normal for ocd? thanks
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., May 17, 2004 12:00AM
, May 17, 2004 12:00AM
It certainly sounds like ocd to me, and yes medication has proven to be quite helpful. Ask your doctor about wellbutrin, which does not have sexual side effects, and is useful for depression. There are others to consider also. Therapy is still your best choice, so continue to try to understand what is below the surface, rather than get lost in the symptom.
