Psychological erectile dysfunction (ED) happens due to psychological factors rather than physical ones. Factors like stress, anxiety, performance anxiety, depression, relationship problems, trauma, etc. are psychological reasons that can negatively impact the erection response.
Such factors disrupt sexual feelings and as a result, the person struggles to become sexually aroused. Lack of arousal contributes to erection difficulties.
Understanding erectile dysfunction
The person with erectile dysfunction or impotence struggles to get and maintain erections strong enough to have sexual intercourse. This happens because of the lack of adequate blood supply to the penile.
The penile fails to receive sufficient blood because of the narrowing of blood vessels. The blood vessels become narrow and constricted, which limits the flow of blood through them.
There must be abundant blood supply happening to the penile to trap the blood under high pressure inside to promote firmer erections. However, poor blood supply leads to weaker erections. Even if erections happen, they will not sustain for longer.
Symptoms of psychological erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction can manifest through various symptoms that are listed below:
Difficulty getting an erection: Individuals with ED struggle to attain an erection even after adequate sexual stimulation and arousal.
Difficulty maintaining an erection: Some individuals may be able to achieve erections but they fail to keep the penile erect for longer.
Feeble erections: Poor blood flow affects the erection quality and due to this individuals get weaker erections, generally not suitable for sexual intercourse.
Premature, delayed, or absent ejaculation: Lack of firmer erections contributes to ejaculatory disorders.
Diminished sexual desire: Failure to get harder reduces the individual’s desire for sexual activity.
Occasional troubles with sexual function are common and they do not necessarily indicate you have erectile dysfunction. But if you persistently face the difficulties that are listed above, then you need to consult a healthcare professional who can help you identify the root cause of ED and suggest some suitable treatment remedies.
Psychological causes of erectile dysfunction
Stress
Individuals suffer from chronic stress related to work, finances, difficult life events, relationship problems, and so on. Stress is common, but if it persists for too long and becomes worse, it can lead to anxiety. It is the most potent reason why men experience psychological erectile dysfunction.
Anxiety
Anxious individuals fail to perform sexually well. Anxiety is the piling up of stress, which triggers feelings of uneasiness. Anxiety is characterized by intense and persistent worry about daily situations. It badly interferes with the sexual feelings and the individual remains caught up in negative emotions.
Performance anxiety
Some individuals may feel anxious about not performing well sexually. It is characterized by fear or apprehension about sexual performance that can interfere with one's ability to engage in sexual interaction and attain satisfaction.
The person develops fear or too much worry about not being sexually enough for their partner. This worry stems from not being able to satisfy their partner sexually. This contributes to stress and anxiety that impact sexual function.
Relationship problems
Strained relationships are the reasons why some men develop a lack of interest in sex. It can lead to stress, resentment, lack of trust, performance pressure, decreased intimacy, and depression in some individuals. These factors can give rise to sexual trouble in men.
Even if the couple decides to become intimate, the poor relationship dynamic between them makes it difficult for them to proceed. The male may find it difficult to develop sexual feelings towards their partner due to ongoing issues. They may struggle to get and maintain erections.
Past trauma or abuse
Some people may refrain from having sex or find it difficult to continue sexual activity because of some traumatic events of the past. Those who were sexually abused might also have a fear of having intimacy, which affects their sexual function. This can translate into ED in some men.
Shame and guilt
Feelings of shame and guilt related to sex, bad sexual experiences of the past, etc. lead to erection problems in males. Some might be not comfortable with their sexual orientation, which might cause them to avoid sexual intimacy.
Esteem issues
The person may have low self-esteem related to sexual performance because of some bad sexual experiences of the past. They may develop feelings of inadequacy, which negatively influence their sexual performance.
The psychological ED can be managed with several techniques including psychotherapy, relationship counseling, and self-help strategies like meditation, yoga, and lifestyle changes. ED because of physical problems can be managed with ED medications such as Malegra 100.