5 Psychological causes of Erectile Dysfunction | How to overcome psychological ed
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Most men will experience erectile problems
at least once in their lives. They’re far from uncommon, and can be caused by
any number of factors.
Poor blood flow is an oft-cited reason,
which is why the condition is more prevalent in older men, who are more
susceptible to such illnesses as high blood pressure and diabetes, which impede
circulation.
Psychogenic erectile dysfunction on the
other hand caused by psychological or interpersonal determinants.
Five of which we will discuss here:
Performance anxiety, General stress, Depression, Loss of interest, Reliance on erectile dysfunction treatment.
These can be wide-ranging, and not even
apparent to some until problems have arisen during intercourse.
These instances may often only be
temporary, and pass without the need for intervention.
But cases where these problems persist
should definitely be addressed. Talking about them with your partner, or
seeking treatment from a doctor are important steps in tackling the issue.
Here is our guide to the psychological
causes of erectile dysfunction, and what you can do to overcome them:
1. Performance Anxiety.
This is primarily defined as pressure to
perform during sex.
It is not uncommon in new relationships,
where a man might be nervous about a sexual encounter and eager to impress
their partner.
Again, the problem is often not one which
persists, and may pass as partners become more accustomed to each other and
comfortable in a sexual relationship.
However, performance anxiety, thought to
be among the most common psychological causes of impotence, is considered to be
a major component in persistent psychogenic due to its self-perpetuating
nature.
Explained; the more anxious a man gets
about being able to perform, the less able they are to do so, and the more
anxious they get, and so on, causing a spiral of deterioration.
In such cases, it is important to talk
about the problem sooner rather than later. The longer the issue is left
unaddressed, the more of an obstacle it may become.
Sometimes a conversation with your partner
may be all it takes to relieve worries and ease feelings of tension.
But if this doesn’t sufficiently solve the
problem, it may be wise to approach your GP. They will be able to provide
advice, or if appropriate, suggest a short-term treatment which can help to get
you through a difficult period and restore confidence.
Performance Anxiety is a Psychological causes of Erectile Dysfunction
2. General Stress.
Psychological causes of erectile dysfunction aren’t always related to
sex itself.
Sometimes issues at work, periods of
financial strain, or stress related to just about any area of your life can
have a significant effect on sexual performance too.
There are a number of reasons why.
Experts think that during times of stress,
activity in less essential sections of the brain, including in those which
manage arousal, starts to decrease.
Another, more simple reason is
distraction.
When the brain is dealing with stress, it
becomes much harder to remain focussed on intercourse.
Hormone behaviour during stress is thought
to play a role too. Cortisol, which the body produces as a response to stress,
can cause sexual problems; and during periods of stress, levels of testosterone
(a hormone the male body needs to produce erections) may drop.
Tackling the issue at its root can help to
alleviate stress. This might be talking to your employer to ease your workload
if you’re feeling pressure in your job; or getting advice and help on any
financial problems which are causing you to worry.
3. Depression.
Loss of self-esteem, overall fatigue and
disturbed eating and sleeping habits are well-known signs of depression.
But one of the less talked about albeit
common symptoms of depression is erectile dysfunction.
In fact, the two issues can sometimes fuel
each other and make the other one worse.
One study has shown that prescription
treatments like Viagra can improve cases of erectile dysfunction in depressed
males and, to some extent, alleviate depressive symptoms.
But treatment for depression has to begin
with talking to your doctor. They will be able to assist you by pointing you in
the direction of a therapist.
For some, prescription anti-depressants
may be recommended. However some of these can exacerbate impotence.
Let your doctor or therapist know if your
symptoms get worse, so that they can make any necessary adjustments to your
treatment.
4. Loss of Interest.
One pattern you may be noticing among most
of the psychological causes of erectile
dysfunction is that they are largely self-perpetuating.
Loss of sexual desire, or libido, is
another example of this.
Men are more prone to erectile problems if
they aren’t as interested in sex; and are more prone to loss of libido if they
have erectile problems.
Relationship issues can be a cause of
libido problems.
It may be the case that sex is not as
fulfilling due to over familiarity, or concerns about the relationship. Talking
to your partner about the issue, or seeking advice and support from
organisations such as Relate can help.
It is advisable however, particularly if
you feel that there aren’t any underlying issues in your relationship, to speak
to your GP. Sometimes loss of libido can have a medical cause, or be a side
effect resulting from prescription treatment.
Let’s also not forget that loss of sex
drive can often be a consequence of the other factors on this list, such as
depression or stress. Taking measures to address these may also assist in
restoring desire; and in turn reducing the likelihood of erectile dysfunction.
Psychological causes of Erectile Dysfunction - loss of interest
5. Reliance on erectile dysfunction Treatment.
Medication for erectile dysfunction is a
route many men with decreased blood flow take.
It can also provide a viable short-term
treatment option for those men experiencing impotence related to anxiety, by
helping them to overcome a troublesome period and restoring confidence.
But some experts do posit, and this theory
is supported by one study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, that medications
of this kind can cause reliance on their use when used recreationally; and
subsequently the user may come to feel that erections are unachievable without
them.
Perhaps the best way of avoiding this
prospect then, is to determine the issue causing erectile dysfunction before
taking measures to treat it.
Those physical cases caused by poor blood
flow may necessitate more regular or continued use of erectile dysfunction medication.
However, in those cases where performance
anxiety is the cause, prescription treatment might be better considered as a
short-term solution, to provide a confidence boost.
In any case, you should talk to your
doctor if you are encountering sexual problems. Because the potential causes
are so wide-ranging, they will be able to help you identify the issue at the
source, and the best possible course of treatment.
