Erectile dysfunction (ED) can be termed as the failure of an adult male to get or sustain an erection sufficiently, which prevents you and your partner from having sexual satisfaction. However, having trouble getting an erection from time to time is not a cause for concern as this may not be ED.
Many men who experience this condition at a point in their lives may fall into stress or depression. ED causes stress, affects one’s self-esteem, and plays a massive role in bringing about relationship troubles.
Erectile dysfunction is a common condition, therefore, one should not feel isolated. Eighteen million men in the USA alone suffer from ED. Consequently, it is a prevalent condition and can affect any man at any given time.
This condition is also self-diagnosable as you may notice that you do not perform as well as you used to.
However, the solution to erectile dysfunction lies in finding the root cause of your problem and addressing it as is. One may suffer from ED because of psychological or physical factors. Therefore, this post will share some of the psychological aspects. They include:
- Stress
Stress is a common factor that causes ED in men. Everyone, regardless of gender, experiences stress at some point in their lives. Further, stress can sometimes motivate one to perform a task better, but it can also be entirely counter-productive. It can significantly affect one’s sexual performance, and this may cause erectile dysfunction.
- Anxiety
Anxiety is an example of a psychological issue that brings about real physical effects. Anxiety has been known to cause blood pressure issues, increased heart rate, and even fatigue. All these effects of anxiety can translate into erectile dysfunction or affect your sexual performance.
- Sexual performance anxiety
When you experience erectile dysfunction for the first time, it can feel devastating, and you might be afraid to get intimate with anyone else ever again. This fear of intimacy will lead to low self-esteem, and subsequently, these emotions may cause ED.
- Relationship troubles
If one is undergoing relationship stress, then chances are the stress will ultimately affect your sexual performance. Specific issues such as anger, poor communication, and endless arguments will hinder you from experiencing sexual desires.
The best way to treat ED is by getting a professional medical diagnosis and identifying the cause of the condition. If the reason is psychological, then the best cause of action is by taking care of your mental health like never before. If the reason is physical factors, then the doctor will advise accordingly. However, always seek professional advice before taking any medication.
Further, mental health should be addressed just as seriously as physical health because problems from mental health often result in physical issues too.
Here are some other reasons for having good mental health:
- Avoiding certain lifestyle conditions- stress and anxiety can at times cause high blood pressure and diabetes. They may also translate into ED in extreme conditions. That is why it is crucial to keep these diseases at bay by simply maintaining your mental health.
- Knowing how to handle stress- stress can sometimes cause anger and despair. This would at times lead to suicidal thoughts or make one perform extreme acts out of anger. Therefore, good mental health will keep you from such actions and promote overall health and well-being.
Mental health is a critical aspect of our well-being. If neglected or suppressed, it has far-reaching effects on the entire body. It is imperative in men because, if left unchecked, it may cause erectile dysfunction and other conditions that will affect their well-being.
Taking care of one’s self is the key to erectile dysfunction treatment. Therefore, having a support system that you can lean on when you have problems may go a long way in helping. Further, eating healthy, frequent exercise, and getting enough sleep will also help avoid ED and recover from it.
