8 signs you’re suffering from seasonal AFFECTION disorder & the tricks to tempt blokes back under the sheets
THE cold winter months can get us all down, but new research has shown they can make blokes unhappy in more ways than one.
Gloomy weather and dark nights cause Seasonal Affective Disorder, a type of depression that makes erectile dysfunction more likely.
Also, lack of Vitamin D at this time means a lower mood, which can hit sex drive – and in women too.
Sex and relationships expert Kate Taylor says if you’re experiencing a sudden slump between the sheets you could be suffering Seasonal AFFECTION Disorder.
Claire Dunwell reveals eight signs you might have it and how to go from SAD to GLAD (Getting Lucky All Day) . . .
You choose Netflix rather than chill
WE all love curling up in front of some great telly in the autumn months.
But when you watch “just one more episode” until 2am, rather than getting naked between the sheets, you’re probably avoiding intimacy.
Go from SAD to GLAD: Try putting a television in your bedroom.
Couples who do this have reported having twice as much sex as those who don’t.
If you really have to binge-watch that box-set of an evening, then do it upstairs, naked, together.
Skin-to-skin contact will have the pair of you going at it until long before Netflix asks if you’re still watching.
Tend to grab comfiest pants in the morning
THE underwear you choose is a good indication of how much sex you want that day.
A study published in the National Library of Medicine found that women are influenced by their sex drive when it comes to choosing their knickers in the morning — picking sexy lingerie if they hope to end the day with a bang.
This isn’t to entice their partner, it’s because it makes them feel sexy.
Go from SAD to GLAD: Wearing red has been found to make men and women look more attractive to their partner, and to increase their own feelings of self-confidence.
Why not treat yourself to some new red underwear in fabrics that feel sensuous on the skin, such as satin or silk?
Too stressed to have sex
THE run-up to Christmas can be a really stressful time, as couples navigate the likes of budgets, presents, work, parenting, nights out and tricky in-laws.
Stress is a serious passion-killer as it causes us to release more cortisol, which in turn reduces our libido.
High cortisol levels cause raised blood pressure and indigestion, but there are subtle side effects too, such as exhaustion, gaining weight, headaches and nausea.
Go from SAD to GLAD: Try simmering with your partner, to diffuse stress.
Keep each other on a low boil by cuddling (ideally naked), sexting, right, snogging, flirting or giving each other sexy massages.
Remove the stress of feeling like you have to go all the way in the bedroom — and tease each other instead, slowly building up to more.
Craving comfort food due to low serotonin
IF your dinners have gone from healthy to JustEatEverything, you might have low levels of serotonin.
This happiness chemical can dip in winter, leaving us depressed and in turn craving foods that are high in fat and sugar.
Very low serotonin levels can interfere with our sex life, too, and can mean men are more likely to suffer from issues such as erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation or low libido.
Go from SAD to GLAD: Eat more fish.
You could be just two tins of tuna away from paradise.
According to a study from Harvard University, couples who eat fish on average twice a week have 22 per cent more sex than couples who don’t.
Time to break out the salmon steaks.
Just too tired for romps
OUR bodies tend to produce more melatonin during the winter months, which can leave us feeling sleepy and sluggish.
Staying in bed all day might sound sexy, but lack of energy can kill your mojo and make you much less interested in sex.
Go from SAD to GLAD: Get “up” earlier in the morning and switch your sex schedule from dusk to dawn — men’s testosterone levels peak at about 7am, meaning that they will crave a rude awakening.
An early session will lower both of your blood pressures and raise your oxytocin levels — helping to keep you both feeling calm and connected throughout the day.
Drinking too much alcohol, rather than hot drinks
ONE glass of red wine can boost your sex life by increasing blood flow down below — but more than that can dampen your desire and make it harder to reach orgasm.
Go from SAD to GLAD: Have a hot chocolate instead. If your drinks are on the rocks, then your relationship might be too.
One study found that people judge their companion’s personality more positively, and feel more affectionate, when they’re actually holding a hot drink rather than a cold one.
The hot drinks warm up our hands, and that effect seems to make us feel emotionally warmer towards our companions.
So ditch the cold beer for the night and cuddle up with a cup of cocoa.
Not even interested in solo fun
WHEN your sex drive tanks, it’s not always a sign that you’ve gone off your partner.
It can suggest you’re in a sexual slump generally.
If you’ve even lost interest in masturbation, that’s a strong sign you really need to get back in touch with your body.
Go from SAD to GLAD: Have a hot bath (and I don’t mean the temperature of the water).
Having a bubble bath with a fragrance (such as sandalwood, cinnamon or ylang ylang) is proven to raise your libido.
Why not read some erotic fiction while you have a soak — and if you’re feeling adventurous, use a waterproof sex toy such as Lovehoney’s 20-Function Finger Vibrator, £32.99.
Taking this time to reconnect with yourself reminds you how good it feels to be touched.
Pretending to stay late at work
BE honest — are you genuinely swamped at work, or are you avoiding intimacy with your partner?
Similarly, are you finding excuses to leave the house more, throwing yourself into a solo hobby, or staying in the car for ages because you don’t want to come home?
If any of this sounds familiar, you’re stuck in a rut.
Go from SAD to GLAD: One of the best ways to boost your sex drive is to earn more money.
One study found the higher your wage, the more sexual activity you’re interested in.
If your career feels like it’s going nowhere, set some shared financial goals with your partner like getting a promotion, finding a new job, or taking up a joint side-hustle.
By reigniting your career, you could reignite the passion in your relationship.