Post-sex dysphoria, also called post-sex depression, is a situation characterized by the feeling of sadness, irritation or feeling of shame after intimate contact. Dysphoria is more common among women, but it can also occur in men.
This feeling of sadness, anguish or irritation after sex can interfere with the person's quality of life and, therefore, when it is frequent, it is important to seek help from a psychologist to identify the possible reason for post-sex dysphoria and start treatment.
Symptoms of dysphoria
Usually after sexual intercourse the person has a feeling of relaxation and well-being, but in the case of some people the opposite is true, even if the person has felt pleasure during the intercourse.
Post-sex dysphoria is characterized by feelings of sadness, shame, irritation, a feeling of emptiness, anguish, anxiety or crying for no apparent reason after orgasm. In addition, some people may become physically or verbally aggressive after intercourse, rather than sharing the pleasurable moment and feeling of well-being with their partner.
It is important to observe the frequency of post-sex dysphoria symptoms, because if it is frequent, it is recommended to try to understand the cause with the help of a psychologist so that the feeling of sadness is eliminated and sex becomes pleasurable at all times.
Main causes
Many people associate post-sex dysphoria with the fact that intimate contact was good or bad, the relationship you are in or the lack of knowledge about the person you are relating to. However, dysphoria, in most cases, has nothing to do with these situations, but with hormonal, neuronal and psychological issues.
During sexual intercourse a large amount of hormones are released, guaranteeing the sensation of pleasure. However, after orgasm the concentration of these hormones can decrease quickly, which leads to feelings of sadness or irritation, for example. In addition, post-sex dysphoria may be related to the dysfunction of a structure present in the brain, the neural amygdala, which is responsible for controlling feelings and emotions, and which during and after intimate contact has its activity reduced.
Dysphoria can also be the result of a very oppressive sex education, for example, which can result in distress and questions for the person after the relationship.
How to avoid post-sex dysphoria
To avoid post-sex dysphoria it is important that the person has security about himself and his body, thus avoiding the feeling of shame and questions about his body or sexual performance, for example. It is important to know yourself in order to build self-confidence.
In addition, it is important for the person to have goals, both professionally and personally, and work to achieve them, as the feeling of accomplishment and happiness stimulates well-being in all senses, which can reduce the frequency of dysphoria. post sex, for example.
During sexual intercourse, it is important to forget all problems and concerns and focus only on the moment, preventing the feeling of sadness and anguish after sex.
If dysphoria is frequent, it is recommended to seek a psychologist to identify the possible cause of the dysphoria and, thus, start treatment, as this situation, when frequent, can interfere with the person's quality of life.
