Stress management and Erection
Did you know that stress can affect your sex life? Over the course of their lives, men can experience erectile dysfunction, which can often be caused by psychological and personal factors.1 This article explores psychogenic erectile dysfunction and how to treat ED caused by anxiety.
How stress affects erectile dysfunction?
You may have already noticed: work-related stress and financial or family worries can affect your erection or even your sexual desire. This is due to decreased activity levels in the parts of your brain involved in arousal during periods of intense stress.
Stress also causes distraction and makes it difficult for you to concentrate. Your hormones are also influenced by your stress-related episodes. In particular, cortisol, which is produced by the body as a response to stress, can create sexual problems. For this reason, it is essential you identify the source of your stress.
Natural solutions such as changing your lifestyle, adapting your diet and discarding any addictions can be an important means to alleviate your erectile dysfunction. You will find more recommendations in our article in which we explore Natural Ways to cure ED.
Expert Opinion - Is there a difference between regarding psychogenic factors and organic factors?
How to cure erectile dysfunction due to stress?
Sexual performance anxiety is the main cause of psychogenic erectile dysfunction.2 Some examples of performance barriers are concerns about the durability of their erection or failing to satisfy their partner. This anxiety can occur at the beginning of a new relationship, in an unfamiliar sexual situation or after the first failure to achieve an erection.
Anxiety or a feeling of failure during intercourse may be manifested in subsequent sexual encounters. So, it is important to break this vicious cycle in order to regain your peace of mind, your desire and above all, your self-confidence. How? Talk about the problem! Your partner is just as much a part of this as you are: be sure to confide any doubts or worries you may have with them rapidly. Keeping quiet will only increase your apprehension and prevent any form of intimacy with your partner.
Erectile dysfunction and self-esteem
Recovering your self-confidence is a gradual process. Savor the sensual moments with your partner, focus more on foreplay and caresses than on penetration. Awaken your senses and focus on your pleasure during intimate moments of relaxation. So live in the moment and don’t worry about performance: there are many other ways, besides penetration, to procure pleasure for you and your partner!
To check out all our suggestions for a fulfilling sexual experience and receive tips from our sexologist in our next article: Discover another sexuality.
Untreated ED can damage your self–confidence, causing a lot of stress— even depression and anxiety. Many guys with ED feel like their lives are out of their control. The good news is there’s hope.
Take back control. Use our Specialist Finder tool to locate a doctor in your area who can provide information on how to best treat your ED.
1: Author: Rosen RC, Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction : Classification and Management. Urol Clin North Am. 2001 May;28(2):269-78 ).
2: Author: F.Hedon. Anxiety and erectile dysfunction: a global approach to ED enhances results and quality of life. Int J Impot Res. 2003 Apr;15 Suppl 2:S16-9.
