Are you dealing with Erectile Dysfunction?

Many people think of erectile dysfunction as a problem for older men.

However, ED can affect men of all ages.

Research has shown that about 26 percent of new ED cases are men under forty.

ED is a common sexual dysfunction, affecting millions of men in the United States.

Many cases of ED are influenced by your physical health, such as heart disease, diabetes, enlarged prostate, obesity, or disease that affects the blood vessels.

Prescription medications and lifestyle choices like smoking and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can also affect sexual performance and lead to ED.

This is why it’s important to find the best erectile dysfunction clinic.  They can help get the treatment process started. 

However, psychological issues can be the root of the problem for some men.

In the article below, we will learn about the psychological causes of ED.

What Are The Symptoms Of Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction typically develops over time, although it can happen suddenly for seemingly no reason at all.

It’s only ED when it happens consistently.

You likely don’t have ED if you only have issues getting aroused with sexual partners after a night of drinking or even during a week when you are experiencing severe stress.

But it may be erectile dysfunction if it happens 25% of the time or more.

The primary symptoms of erectile dysfunction are the inability to get a firm enough erection to have sex when you desire it and keep an erection firm for long enough to complete sex or truly enjoy it.

How Do You Know If Erectile Dysfunction is Psychological?

The key to treating psychological, sexual dysfunction is identifying the underlying psychological causes.

Your first step should be to talk to your doctor.

Medical conditions linked to erectile dysfunction are:

• diabetes
• heart disease
• hypertension
• high cholesterol
• high blood pressure
• obesity
• hormonal disorders

You should lookout for a few things that might suggest your erectile dysfunction is psychological. 

You should answer these questions with your doctor:

• Do you ever have morning erections (nocturnal erection)?
• Do you have abnormal amounts of stress or anxiety?
• Can you achieve an erection while masturbating or with physical stimulation from a partner?
• Are you nervous about pleasing your partner?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, your impotence is due to psychological causes.

What Are the Most Common Psychological Causes of ED?

If your erectile dysfunction is caused by psychological triggers, you have what’s known as psychological impotence.

The most common causes of psychological ED are:

• Stress

• Anxiety

• Relationship problems

• Depression

• Performance anxiety

• Guilt

• Low self-esteem

Let’s take a closer look at the most common causes of psychological ED.

Stress and Anxiety

Men dealing with high-stress levels and anxiety will likely have trouble enjoying a sexual experience.

Maybe your job or a challenging life event is causing you stress.

Maybe it’s conflict at home or financial concerns making you anxious.

Whether you have chronic stress, occasional worries, or an anxiety disorder, this will likely result in sexual failure.

When your brain and body are concerned about danger, they can’t necessarily be worried about sex.

Stress hormones prevent our bodies from achieving an erection.

Depression

It’s hard to maintain sexual relationships with depression, and there is a correlation between erectile dysfunction and depression.

Depression impacts every part of your existence.

It can feel like an anchor that weighs you down and makes life that much harder to live.

Depression leads to changes in your brain chemistry and nervous system.

These affected areas also affect your sex drive and ability to have an erection.

Relationship Issues

It may be challenging to have an erection if you are at odds with your partner.

Relationship challenges can easily affect your sex life.

Disagreements are a part of any normal relationship. However, communicating and solving disagreements is an essential part of intimacy.

Satisfying sex requires you to feel safe and intimate with one another, and poor communication hinders that. 

Performance Anxiety

Sometimes we have unrealistic expectations about what will happen in the bedroom.

In many ways, sexual performance anxiety becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You become nervous about being able to satisfy your partner.

Eventually, that nervousness may lead to sexual dysfunction and mental impotence. 

Performance anxiety is sometimes triggered by negative self-talk.

Worries about being able to achieve an erection, fulfill a sexual desire, please your partner, or ejaculating too early can all lead to ED. 

Experiences with erectile dysfunction in the past can add to the weight of performance anxiety.

Treatment Options for Psychological Impotence

Psychological causes of erectile dysfunction may be more complex than ED caused by health conditions, but they are still treatable. 

The best treatment for psychological ED is to address the problem at its root.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with a mental health professional is a common treatment for psychological issues in general.

Research indicates it’s useful for sexual dysfunction. CBT helps identify and change unhealthy patterns of thought that can contribute to erectile issues. It can also help break the ongoing cycle of performance anxiety. 

This kind of treatment is based on the idea that the situation itself is not the core problem, but your reaction to it is. 

Diagnosing Erectile Dysfunction

The key to resolving ED is finding and treating the underlying cause as early as possible.

Your doctor will ask you about your medical and sexual history.

They’ll likely ask about your sex drive, expectations about sex, how long you’ve been experiencing symptoms, and whether or not you can ejaculate or achieve an orgasm.

Your doctor will also perform a physical examination to check for problems with your hormones, nervous system, blood flow, and other physical characteristics.

If necessary, they can also order a blood test, urine analysis, or other lab tests.

If all physical causes of ED are ruled out, they will start looking for psychological causes.

They’ll perform a psychosocial examination to evaluate your mental health.

Once a proper diagnosis is made, they will go over your treatment options.

Visit Choice Men’s Health Erectile Dysfunction Clinic Today!

Psychological issues can affect more than just your mental health.

Depression, anxiety, stress, and relationship problems can affect your sexual function and cause ED.

If you’re experiencing a loss in sexual function visit Choice Men’s Health.

With their ED Specialists, they can find a cause and a treatment to bring your sexual health back to normal.

Choice Men’s Health can customize an ED treatment plan for you to lead a happier, healthier life.

If you have questions about erectile dysfunction, Choice Men’s Health in Atlanta, Georgia, has been helping men enjoy a healthy sex life for years.

Schedule an appointment with our ED Specialists to get started on your Erectile Dysfunction Treatment by calling (404) 400-3717 or filling out a form here.

References:

https://www.forhims.com/blog/psychological-causes-of-ed

https://www.healthline.com/health/erectile-dysfunction/psychological#takeaway

How to Overcome the Psychological Effects of Erectile Dysfunction

https://www.verywellhealth.com/erectile-dysfunction-signs-symptoms-and-complications-4160525