Few typically want to discuss it, but ED is more common than most men, or couples, will want to admit. Most cases of ED – around 80% – can be traced to a physical cause. Prominent among these are underlying health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. There are also more internal body-specific conditions, such as blood flow issues, and hormonal issues, which can be the cause of erectile problems.
Basic lifestyle choices can also have a significant physical impact. Excessive alcohol use is one; smoking is another. Both can contribute to ED difficulties in a guy.
When those physical contributing factors are absent, and the condition still exists – the remaining 20% of cases out there – the issue is likely a psychological one. ED treatment, therefore, can sometimes be a study in factors of the mind, rather than of the body.
Psychological Causes of ED
The mind, obviously, plays a hugely important role when it comes to sex. The mental aspects of intimacy are as important as the physical. Anything that gets in the way could negatively impact the ability of a man to achieve a sustained erection, including:
Anxiety
It could be over anything – anxiety over upcoming bills, a job performance review, an impending due date on an assignment. It could be anxiety over the prospect of sex itself. The mind’s reaction to such distractions can divert attention away from sexual arousal, resulting in a poor bedroom experience.
Stress
Likewise, stress inducing life issues, such as long work hours, a commandeering boss, or even just daily driving in heavy traffic, could affect what happens to a fellow when he wants to get intimate with his partner, resulting in ED.
Depression
It’s a common issue that too often goes undiagnosed and unaddressed. Depression, feeling blue or melancholy, or worse, can wreak havoc on the mind, causing the ability to perform sexually to disappear, even when the desire and a willing partner may be there.
Relationship Problems
When things are not going well for a couple – bickering, conflicting schedules, money problems, for example, one unwanted by-product may be ED, just when a little intimacy and make-up time is in order.
Fear of Sexual Dysfunction
The very prospect of not being able to perform sexually may itself be a cause of ED. Perhaps after a single bad experience, a man becomes convinced there is something wrong with him, physical or otherwise. This fear becomes the source of the problem itself, despite the fact that it may be all in his mind.
ED Treatments for Psychological Issues
Many treatments exist for ED, the majority of them for physical deficiencies, such as hormone levels, for example. Physical problems, in fact, account for 80% of ED cases. The various treatments for those are highly effective. The remaining 20% of cases may call for ED treatment of a more psychological nature. A trained professional in this area can help identify potential causes of ED, pinpointing specific issues such as those listed above. A good ED treatment clinic will have the resources and connections to this type of professional assistance, if it is determined that there are no underlying physical ailments responsible for ED.
Mental Health – It Should Be a Priority in Life
The day-to-day pressures we all face, whether work related, finance related, or simply life related, can be taxing mentally. After a long workday, or even during a day off, or vacation, it can often be difficult to get rid of the accumulated stress and related anxieties. During the down time when it should be easy to relax and forget for a while, it sometimes just doesn’t happen. It is during those freed-up periods where intimacy between a couple should be allowed to flourish and contribute to a healthy and fulfilled life. When that doesn’t happen, the outcome may be an out-of-control spin resulting in an issue like ED, to name but one. Self diagnosing or self medicating is never a good idea in these instances. Professional help should be sought before this type of scenario is allowed to go too far.
ED Treatment – the Psychological Aspect
A healthy sex life is something every adult deserves. As we all know, it’s a hectic world we live in; non-participation in it is, generally, not an option. One of the great pleasures in life is to let go of the day-to-day, week-to-week pressure cooker, and share intimate time with a partner, finding that natural relief in the most pleasurable way possible. When those fleeting, vital times are disrupted by ED, a couple is not only disappointed; they are also deprived of the opportunity to escape, to develop as a partnership. ED treatment should be sought if this becomes an ongoing issue. If all physical possibilities for the problem are ruled out, it is quite possible psychological factors are responsible, and should be addressed, in a timely fashion, by a professional.
