The Monster Under the Bed: Sex, Depression, and the Conversations We Aren’t Having

Product Description

Almost everyone has had some interaction with depression. Whether it’s you, a family member, a friend, or a partner who is affected, depression has the potential to touch us all. Even so, many of us don’t know how to handle depression becoming part of our love life and it can quickly become the monster under the bed. From “you have to love yourself first,” to “don’t stick it in the crazy,” to dead silence, popular responses to the topic leave much to be desired. But you’re not alone and you can have successful relationships and satisfying sex with depression. JoEllen Notte will help you understand how sexual function is affected by depression and what keeps us from effectively addressing it. Heavily informed by the author’s research, including surveys of over 1,000 people and interviews with close to 200, this is the first book of its kind. With practical tips and real-life examples, this is both a guidebook for people with depression and the people who love them, as well as a reference tool for mental health professionals.

Review

“JoEllen Notte began an important conversation about mental health and sexual health when practically no one was talking about it. She has led the way in expanding public dialogues about the intersection of these very important issues with her thoughtful writing and presentations based on her groundbreaking original research. JoEllen dared to speak about a topic no one else would and has changed the way we think about sex and depression. Her work is, quite simply, invaluable.”—Tristan Taormino, sex educator, host of Sex Out Loud Radio, and author of
Opening Up

“JoEllen Notte takes taboo subjects, sex and depression, and makes them approachable for anyone ready to take the journey. With her wit, empathy, and knowledge, JoEllen makes it safe to people to explore their deepest pleasures and their biggest fears.” —Shadeen Francis, MFT

“JoEllen’s work is a true gift to us all. The impact of depression and mental health on sexuality is a vitally urgent topic and JoEllen is bravely and brilliantly leading the conversation. JoEllen’s own immense intelligence is matched by her dedication to gathering the stories and data from thousands of people affected by depression. She asks bold questions, gathers compelling research and then offers us effective strategies and resources. I know I am among a legion of sex educators, therapists and wellness professionals ready and eager to recommend JoEllen’s upcoming book to our audiences. Her writing is relevant for all of us, but is revolutionary for the millions of us that both struggle with mental wellness and want a vibrant healthy sexuality. Our interview with JoEllen has emerged as one of our most popular and provocative episodes. We still receive emails about it years later, revealing the need and hunger for her work.” —Chris Maxwell Rose, sex educator at PleasureMechanics.com

“JoEllen is making it possible to talk and think about sex and depression in new ways. Depression can affect every aspect of a life, including, perhaps especially, sex. Through her outspoken advocacy, and independent, ground breaking, research, she is shining a light on an issue that affects millions.” —Jacq Jones, sex educator, owner of Sugar

“JoEllen is, as far as I’m concerned, a leading authority on the intersections between sex and depression. Her work both fascinates me as a sex nerd and comforts me as a depressed person. Not nearly enough people are having the kinds of conversations JoEllen facilitates, so I consider her work vitally important. She makes sex and mental health an accessible, interesting, and thought-provoking topic, whether she’s writing thoughtfully on her blog or elucidating cleverly on a panel. Her work makes me feel less alone, and I know I’m far from the only one she’s affected in that way.” —Kate Sloan, sex journalist, blogger, co-host of The Dildorks podcast

“JoEllen has a unique way with words and is able to conv