Psychological issues can cause erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is the constant or repeated failure to achieve and/or keep an erection necessary for sexual pleasure. it ranks as the most widely reported sexual disorder in men ,affecting about 30 million men.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is more than simply a physiological issue; it can also influence (and be affected by) your psychological conditions.
Irrespective of status,age or race,one of biggest sources of worry for heterosexual men is their inability to achieve and maintain an erection. A man’s ability to have an erection is very crucial to his overall well-being.
Physical intimacy has a variety of beneficial implications for couples. It has been associated to beneficial effects like reduced stress,lower anxiety, decreased blood pressure, increased bonding, reduced risk of prostate cancer and even a decrease in rates of divorce.[1]
It’s essential to mention that both your physical and emotional condition have an impact on sexual performance or physical intimacy. It’s incredibly tough to get and keep an erection once you’re feeling a bit down or depressed.
This proves that psychological issues contribute significantly to erectile dysfunction in many men. Stress and other mental health conditions can cause erectile dysfunction or make them worse.
In this post we shall be discussing 8 topmost psychological issues that can cause erectile dysfunction.
Also Read: Psychological issues and erectile dysfunction
Also Read:Surprising Facts About Erectile Dysfunction Men Need to Know
8 topmost psychological issues that can cause erectile dysfunction.
It takes more than just physiology to achieve and keep an erection.
It is a complicated process including cognitive impulses (psychosocial cues), optimal testosterone levels, a healthy neurological mechanism, and a functional vascular system.
Here are 8 topmost psychological issues that can cause erectile dysfunction.
1. Stress
Stress is one of the main causes of psychological erectile dysfunction. Our physical, psychological, and sexual well-being are all negatively affected by extreme stress. Stress can damage our immune systems, leaving the body vulnerable to infection and disease. There are so many things that can make a man stressed. Stress can be caused by a significant shift in your life or by issues related to your family life, job, finances, or interpersonal relationships.
Whenever you are stressed, your brain releases stress hormones into your bloodstream. Nitric oxide is significant because it aids in the expansion of blood vessels and the regulation of blood flow. Low levels of nitric oxide hinder it from doing so. When blood vessels constrict, blood flow to the penis is reduced, preventing an erection.
Another issue is that stress usually induces unpleasant feelings such as resentment, insecurity, and anger, which dominate daily thoughts. The affected person either becomes less interested in having sex or finds it more challenging to achieve or maintain an erection as a result.
If this is allowed to continue, this fear of sexual failure comes to rule the man, becoming a reoccurring issue which makes him tense during sex, preventing him from achieving an erection and satisfying his partner, and this can exacerbate the issue. One solution is to seek out techniques to reduce stress and learn to relax.
Life situations such as relationship problems, work problems, loss, or stress, fear of aging, disease, bereavement, or financial difficulties can trigger stress, which can lead to erectile dysfunction.
2. Depression
Your state of mind is a very important factor in your ability to get and maintain an erection. Whenever you are feeling depressed as a man, you can’t be able to get and keep an erection. There is a strong link between depression and erection. Depression is a major psychological factor that affects your ability to obtain and maintain an erection. It actually makes sense when you think about it. If you’re depressed, it’s going to be very difficult for you to be aroused sexually, not to talk about getting an erection.
3. Performance Anxiety
Performance anxiety is often caused by a feeling of inadequacy related to penile size, ejaculatory control, or a crippling fear of failing to gratify a partner or perform well in the bedroom. The paradox here is that your perceived deficiencies will more likely surface during sex the more you dwell on them, because as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The fact that you already performed below expectations makes things worse and increases your anxiety about it happening again in the future, which raises the likelihood that it will, creating a vicious cycle. Strangely, you are more prone to developing erectile dysfunction the more you worry about your perceived inadequacies.
4. Relationship Problems
Erectile dysfunction is caused by a variety of physical causes. The difficulty of achieving and maintaining an erection, however, can also be caused by a variety of psychological issues. All of these psychological disorders, including depression, commute-related stress, and interpersonal difficulties, might contribute to erectile dysfunction. Have you ever had trouble communicating about your issues? Has your relationship made you anxious or stressed out? Has your relationship with your lover ever been tense? Erectile dysfunction can be greatly impacted by all of these causes. One of the simplest ways to raise stress and tension between you and your spouse or partner is to have communication issues. Erectile dysfunction can therefore readily emerge from this stress and tension. Erectile dysfunction can be brought on by any anxiety or stress brought on by any aspect of your relationship, just like communication issues can. If you have issues with your erectile function, whether they are physical or psychological, you need to see a physician.
5. Pornography Addiction
If you always rely on watching porn to get an erection, this can cause psychological erectile dysfunction problems because you are likely to have “stage fright’ whenever it comes to sexual performances. The cause of the condition described as “porn-induced erectile dysfunction” (PIED) has just recently been discovered. According to theories concerning porn-induced erectile dysfunction, excessive exposure to “unrealistic” bodies and responses to porn’s dopamine-related effects can alter how a person views sex in the real world. If you watch a lot of pornography and have erectile dysfunction, or if you frequently choose porn over sex with your spouse, it’s time to stop. This is due to the fact that pornography can educate the brain to expect and require it in order for sexual excitement to occur on a neurochemical level. Additionally, porn can cause you to have exaggerated notions about your physical appearance and sexual prowess. As a result, performance anxiety and psychological erectile dysfunction may occur.
6. Low self-esteem
Men with poor self-esteem, for instance, may think they aren’t attractive or aren’t good enough.
This may result in erection issues when in bed. Erectile dysfunction and low self-esteem are interconnected. Low self-esteem may be caused by past ED episodes, which may result in a sense of inadequacy and other problems unrelated to sexual performance. According to one study of Brazilian guys, 95% of those with ED also had low self-esteem!
Although it should come as no surprise that erectile or sexual dysfunction can result in low self-esteem, did you also realize that the inverse is also true?
In addition, those who lack self-esteem are more likely to struggle with feelings of guilt, melancholy, worry, and rejection fear.
7. Fear of sexual dysfunction
The first time you experience difficulty in getting an erection, you may fear that it will repeat again. This may lead to fear or low self-esteem. Your capacity to get or keep an erection during your subsequent sexual experience may be impacted by these emotions.
As long as you don’t visit your doctor for a cure, this cycle can go on. Your anxiety about sexual dysfunction ought to vanish after you’ve found the best solution.
8. Sexual Apathy
Psychological erectile dysfunction may result due to a man’s lack of interest in sex. A man may become sexually indifferent for a variety of reasons. If a man is having relationship problems or believes that his relationship is monotonous and boring, he is likely to be disinterested in sex. This lack of interest can result in psychological erectile dysfunction.
What is the scientific explanation behind this? Dopamine, a brain chemical associated with excitement, motivation, and pleasure, is released in large amounts when one thinks about having sex. Additionally, getting an erection depends on it greatly!
A man who is uninterested in or bored by sex is unlikely to experience the dopamine rush that might lead to erectile dysfunction when thinking about the act.
Conclusion
Seeking medical assistance is not a sign of weakness. We all need assistance at some point to work through some of the issues in your life,health and relationship.
Feel free to talk to your health care provider and your partner about your feelings and struggles. Sometimes communication can be one of the solutions to your problem.
Don’t joke with your sleep. Sleep deprivation can cause anxiety which may make it difficult for you to have erection.
Work cited
Liu H, Waite L, Shen S, Wang D. Is sex good for your health? A national study on partnered sexuality and cardiovascular risk among older men and women. J Health Soc Behav. 2016;57(3):276–296. doi:10.1177/0022146516661597