Depression, Stress and anxiety are two very common health problems in the United States, and unfortunately, they can lead to or worsen erectile dysfunction. Just know there are many options out there to help you with both mental health concerns and ED.
Anxiety or Anxiety Disorder plays a major role during the development of problems relevant to erectile dysfunction or Erectile disorder (aka ED). Psychological and behavioural responses to ED can lead to a vicious cycle of increased uneasiness, distance and conflicts. This in turn leads to a lower frequency of sexual encounters, less time spent together and lack of communication between partners in a relationship. In this review, methods to decrease sexual anxiety are discussed. Primary care psychosexual counselling including a detailed explanation of ED, reassurance to the patient and proposal of a solution for ED are outlined. A multidisciplinary approach to ED therapy is recommended using psychosexual counselling in conjunction with pharmacotherapy.
Some common symptoms of ADHD include depression, emotional instability, and anxiety. All of these conditions can have a negative impact on sex drive. For instance, it can be exhausting for someone with ADHD to constantly maintain order and organization. They may not have the energy or desire to engage in sexual activities. Two reported sexual symptoms of ADHD are hypersexuality and hyposexuality. If a person with ADHD experiences sexual symptoms, they may fall into one of these two categories. It should also be noted that sexual symptoms aren’t part of the recognized diagnostic criteria for ADHD as established by the American Psychiatric Association.
Treatment
Sometimes, even after you’ve figured out how to manage your mental health issues, you may still have symptoms of erectile dysfunction. For example, ED is a possible side effect of many antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications, and changing medications for your mental health issues may not always be the best option. If that’s the case, there are medications available that just treat erectile dysfunction. When erectile dysfunction is caused by depression or anxiety, healthcare providers will focus first and foremost on treating your mental health issues, whether through therapy and/or prescription medications. If you can relieve your mental stressors, your erectile dysfunction symptoms are likely to improve, too.
Talk therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy are useful ways to help treat a variety of mental health issues.
