When people think about erectile dysfunction, they mostly associate the condition with organic or physical causes like low testosterone levels or poor blood circulation due to cardiovascular diseases. In truth, there’s a high prevalence of psychogenic erectile dysfunction, especially among younger men.
A man’s libido and erectile function are greatly influenced by psychosocial factors. If you’re depressed or stressed, for instance, it stands to reason why you wouldn’t be in the mood for sex. Continue reading to learn more about psychogenic erectile dysfunction, its causes, and how you can treat it.
What Makes Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction Different?
The one thing that’s different about psychogenic erectile dysfunction is that it means all the physical organs you need in order to get a hard-on are actually healthy and can function well, even though they’re not doing it right now.
It means there’s nothing wrong with your penile arteries or your blood circulation. Your penile nerves are working fine, and they can receive and transmit sensations of sexual stimuli without any problem. In short, you may actually be able to achieve a full-on rock-hard erection if the circumstances are right.
And that’s significantly compared to what men with arteriogenic erectile function are going through. For them, the problem is with their blood vessels, heart, and blood circulation. No matter what the circumstances are, they still won’t be able to achieve an erection unless they take certain supplements or medicines, or maybe even undergo a surgery.
Psychological Causes of Impotence
Psychological impotence may either be generalized or situational. If it’s generalized, it means you always fail to achieve an erection, no matter what the circumstances are. If it’s situational, it means there are only specific situations which trigger your erectile dysfunction. Either way, there are certain mental health problems that typically accompany impotence.
Anxiety
People think that anxiety is all just in your head. In truth, though, it can make your blood pressure rise, increase your heart rate, and even make you feel fatigued. It’s the same way with anxiety-induced erectile dysfunction.
Anxiety can make you feel physical symptoms that unfortunately interfere with your sexual function. In particular, sexual performance anxiety can greatly impair your sexual performance.
For some men, sexual performance anxiety makes them ejaculate prematurely, while others have problems with delayed ejaculation. For others, sexual performance anxiety can make them freeze sexually, unable to get hard and unable to engage in sex at all.
Stress
A very common psychological cause of erectile dysfunction among younger men, stress not only makes you feel preoccupied, tired, and unable to concentrate, but it also keeps your mind away from sex and prevents you from achieving an erection.
You don’t have to be under a lot of stress to feel the negative effects on your sexual performance. In addition, stress can also lower your testosterone levels which also affect your sexual function. This is why men who are chronically stressed typically suffer from low libido and poor erectile function.
Depression
When you’re depressed, the problem is not just with your mood but also with the chemical balance in your brain. Neurotransmitters actually play important roles in sexual arousal, erection, and ejaculation. And when there’s an imbalance in your neurotransmitters, your sexual function and behavior will also be negatively impacted.
In truth, depression has a very close relationship with erectile dysfunction. The two actually contribute to and make each other worse. When you find that you’re impotent, it can cause you to become depressed. In the same manner, when you’re depressed, it can prevent you from getting sexually aroused and becoming erect.
To make things worse, many antidepressants have various adverse sexual effects, thus contributing to the problem. Medication-induced erectile dysfunction is actually a common reason why men on antidepressants stop taking their medicines.
Relationship problems
Perhaps the most common cause of situational erectile dysfunction, relationship problems can definitely impact your libido and sexual function. An unresolved argument can make you feel tensed and not in the mood at all for any kind of intimacy, let alone sex.
Trust issues, poor communication, bitterness, resentment, and anger all contribute to impaired sexual desire and poor sexual function. If you resent your partner or feel that she may not be faithful to you, there’s a good chance that you’ll find it difficult to feel aroused enough to have sex with your partner.
Natural Mood Enhancers
If you’re not ready yet to consult a sex therapist or a psychiatrist to help with your psychological issues and sexual problems, you may want to consider taking natural mood enhancers to lessen your symptoms and improve your mood.
Ashwagandha, for example, is scientifically recognized as an excellent adaptogenic agent. In fact, this popular Ayurvedic herb has actually been tested on people with stress and anxiety, and the studies show that Ashwagandha is helpful in reducing symptoms of psychological distress, elevating mood, and improving stress hormone profile.
What’s really great about Ashwagandha is that it’s also known as a rejuvenating agent, as well as a testosterone booster, sexual performance enhancer, and fertility booster. In fact, the herb is one of the most popular and widely used Ayurvedic aphrodisiacs.
Just like Ashwagandha, Tongkat Ali or Eurycoma longifolia Jack is also good for your mood. Tongkat Ali has been shown to improve stress hormone profiles by lowering cortisol levels while increasing testosterone levels. Due to its testosterone-boosting properties, Tongkat Ali is also recognized as a potent aphrodisiac.
In truth, the positive effects of Tongkat Ali on erectile function and male fertility have been the subject of numerous scientific studies. Tongkat Ali is recommended for both impotent men and infertile men, as the herb is effective in improving both your reproductive capacity and erectile function.
Maca is yet another popular adaptogenic agent which is also proven to help reduce stress and lessen anxiety symptoms. Not only that, but maca is also used as an energy booster, which will benefit you if you’re feeling tired or fatigued due to your stress and anxiety. The energy-boosting properties of maca also make it great for improving your sexual stamina.
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