Decreased libido

If Marvin Gaye’s anthem has you bummed out instead of in the mood, don’t stress. Decreased libido can be caused by so many different things—from prescription medication to anxiety to chronic pain. Plus, it’s safe to say that when you’re first managing chronic illness, or if you’re in the midst of a particularly challenging time, sex might move down the list of priorities—and that’s totally okay. It might help to remind yourself that sex isn’t a competition or something you should feel obligated to want to do. It’s all about intimacy with someone (including yourself), so try to take any pressure to perform out of the equation. It’s also totally normal to feel a little glum or lost if your libido is low, especially since for some of us, sexuality is a big part of our identity. Basically, there’s no wrong way to feel here—so remember that! Whenever you feel ready, you can look to the medicinal mushroom cordyceps, or aphrodisiac herbs like damiana, sarsaparilla, or epimedium (aka horny goat weed—great name, right?) to help up your libido.