I had this conversation with a friend a while back & I'd be real curious to know what the statistics are on this. I'm not depressed currently. It's just for curiosity's sake.

He says that when guys are depressed, they masturbate to ease the depression.

I said that I think it may be different for females because when I'm in a depressed state, I can't seem to masturbate. My thoughts become too consumed & I can't even fathom that escape.

It may not even be a matter of male or female, but just our own personal preferences & ways of dealing with things. Hence, this poll.

What say you? less

I've never heard actual people say that it helps relieve stress or depression. I mean it's nice and actual sex can put me in a better mood easily. Masturbation, has never lightened my mood, even with my partners wonderful help.

I don't think it's very likely that sex would rid real depression. Depression is usually something that is deep inside, something that doesn't go away as easily as people think and things like that don't go away without getting deep down to the issue, resolving it and or getting closure to it. I hardly think real depression could be gotten rid of by sex or masturbation. I know many people who have the real struggle with depression and it's not something that just goes away like that. I also hear people say sex and masturbation "cures" or relieves anxiety and that isn't extremely true. I have anxiety and it's never relieved until I get down to what the anxieties are over and actually deal with or confront them and then of course take my anxiety meds and pass out. Lol.

I think sex can relieve some tension and help put you in a better mood, but real depression is probably not totally fixed by orgasm. I think a person may be fooled because they feel happy after sex, but I don't think it can help the real cause of the depression. Sex releases endorphins, blah, blah, blah. That is why people think they're no longer depressed immediately after sex. The problems is left un dealt with, it will always show back up. less

A lot of people have cycling depression and action can actually have a great impact on the depressive part of the cycle. Both exercise and sexual activity can certainly bring me out of a funk, if I'm cycling that way. It doesn't cure depression, (nothing does) but it certainly can bring me out of the low part of the cycle.

Also, even during a Major Depressive Episode most people have varying degrees of symptoms and many do find that sexual release will ease some of those symptoms.

It may not work for everyone, but it does work for me.

There are too many kinds of depression to say some are "real" and some are not. Cycling depression can often only last a few hours or a few days, only to repeat later. It's real I can guarantee you that, but it's different from a Major Depressive Episode. It doesn't mean that one is "real" and the other isn't though. less

I told my ex husband at one time that if I was bitchy, just to throw me down and fuck the life out of me. It works everytime for me! My husband learned this trick a long time ago.

Orgasms always ease depression for me. Although partnered sex seems to work better than masturbation, self love is better than none. less

A lot of people have cycling depression and action can actually have a great impact on the depressive part of the cycle. Both exercise and sexual activity can certainly bring me out of a funk, if I'm cycling that way. It doesn't cure depression, (nothing does) but it certainly can bring me out of the low part of the cycle.

Also, even during a Major Depressive Episode most people have varying degrees of symptoms and many do find that sexual release will ease some of those symptoms.

It may not work for everyone, but it does work for me.

There are too many kinds of depression to say some are "real" and some are not. Cycling depression can often only last a few hours or a few days, only to repeat later. It's real I can guarantee you that, but it's different from a Major Depressive Episode. It doesn't mean that one is "real" and the other isn't though. less