How To Overcome Psychological Erectile Dysfunction

How To Overcome Psychological Erectile Dysfunction

Despite the wider prevalence of the problem, reliable information on How To Overcome Psychological Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is difficult to find. Men deal with various sexual dysfunctions that deeply affect their confidence and self-esteem.

These problems are manageable including psychological ED. Throughout this post, you’re going to learn more about this condition and how to manage it.

What Is Psychological Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile problems occur when a man is unable to achieve and maintain an erection strong (and long) enough for pleasurable intercourse.

Although we tend to think only older men have ED the reality is that the younger population is prone to this problem too.

An erection is a complicated process that involves arousal, brain stimulation, dilation of blood vessels, engorgement, among other phases. Sometimes it can be difficult to determine the underlying cause of Erectile Dysfunction due to the complexity of this function, but we can categorize its causes to physical and psychological.

The whole idea of psychological erectile problems may seem unrealistic to some men, but it exists. Studies show that men with sexual Dysfunction tend to exhibit signs of anxiety, depression, and psychological stress [1].

Psychological impotence can be caused due to a wide array of psychological problems, and in a vast majority of cases, it is curable. In fact, most cases of Erectile Difficulties are due to a psychological problem, some studies reveal [2].

The most common causes of psychological Erectile Dysfunction are the following:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Fear of experiencing problems during intercourse (performance anxiety)
• Lack of confidence
• Loss of interest
• Negative body image
• Relationship problems
• Stress

But How To Overcome Psychological Erectile Dysfunction?

Psychological ED is a common problem, and it’s understandable that you feel bad about it, but there’s a lot you can do to overcome this issue.

Below, you can see different ways to get a harder erection even if erectile difficulties occur due to psychological factors.

• Take Your Medications

Nope, I’m not telling you to head to the doctor’s office and demand a prescription for some drug. However, if you have some psychological problem that affects your quality of life including erections, then it’s a wise idea to continue taking medications prescribed by your doctor.

It’s not uncommon for people to take drugs until they start feeling better and then just ditch them. Always make sure you’re following doctor’s orders in this case. After all, management of the underlying problem is a viable strategy for men with psychological ED.

• Get Enough Sleep

The importance of sleep is greatly underestimated. Most of us spend nights binge-watching TV or Netflix, and we get a few hours of sleep only. This could explain why we’re constantly stressed out, tired, and can’t seem to finish our work properly.

Sleep deprivation is a major problem, and it affects pretty much every aspect of your life – even sexual performance.

Even sleep disorders such as sleep apnea can affect your prowess between the sheets. Studies have shown that sleep disorders like sleep apnea are prevalent in adult men just like Erectile Dysfunction so there’s a strong indication two conditions may be connected [3].

Sleep deprivation can aggravate symptoms of psychological problems and cause further damage to your erections too. The solution is simple; try to get between seven and nine hours of sleep a night.

Establish a regular sleep schedule which involves having the same bedtime every night and waking up every morning at the same time as well.

• Work On Relationship Problems

Relationships aren’t perfect, and they aren’t even meant to be. We go through ups and downs, work things out, and strengthen the bond with the significant other. However, some problems are more difficult to fix than others.

Not only do these problems change the whole dynamic of the relationship, but they also affect both people on a deeper level. For example, men tend to deal with erectile problems.

This isn’t such a surprise though; it’s difficult to get aroused and have your penis engorged when there’s a huge elephant present in the room, i.e., the problem between you two isn’t solved.

The whole atmosphere is weird, there is no spark, and it just causes stress. You can’t think about anything sexual. To overcome the psychological ED, work on relationship problems.

Don’t sweep your problems under the rug. Instead, communicate, understand one another, and work on your problems together. It will bring you closer to each other.

• Exercise Regularly

As much as we’d like to stay slim and have a healthy and happy life without exercise, that’s not how things work. A sedentary lifestyle has become such a common occurrence today, but its consequences are catastrophic.

Rates of overweight and obesity increase along with the risks of many diseases and health conditions. Exercise has numerous advantages that go beyond weight management and physical health, and they extend to the psychological health and function too.

Evidence confirms that those who exercise regularly experience fewer episodes of poor mental health compared to their counterparts who do not. All exercise types are associated with a lower mental health burden [4].

While exercise is important for mental health, you need to make sure to avoid overdoing it. Too much exercise can stimulate the release of stress hormone cortisol. Aim for 30 – 45 minutes of exercise on a daily basis.

Not only can regular physical activity promotes good mood and psychological health, but it can also give you stronger erections. For example, 40 minutes of aerobic exercise of moderate to vigorous activity four times a week can aid management of ED [5].

Now that you know how to overcome psychological erectile dysfunction with exercise, all you need to do is to determine your favourite type of physical activity and do it. That way, you’re more likely to stick to it.

Exercise will also help you improve body image and confidence.

Conclusion

Psychological factors account for the most prevalent causes of ED, but the good news is that this problem is curable.

Simple lifestyle modifications can help you get stronger and harder erections. Remember, taking care of the underlying problem is half the battle. If your problem is down to relationship struggles, then work on them. Exercise regularly, get enough sleep and be proactive.

References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16809250
2. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.401.8776&rep=rep1&type=pdf
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16422852
4. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(18)30227-X/fulltext
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5960035