The disorder is not as common in women as in men, but it can also affect their arousal.
Yes, for most people, sex is enjoyable, but it’s hard to enjoy it if you’re constantly worried about your performance and end up hurting yourself as a result. If you want to bring the spark back into your love life, understand why sexual performance anxiety might happen to you.
Sex is more than just a physical response. Your emotions have something to do with it too. When your mind is too stressed to focus on sex, your body can’t stay aroused either. Many different concerns can lead to the problem:
-Fear of not behaving well in bed and not sexually satisfying your partner;
-Poor body image, including concerns about weight;
-Problems in your relationship;
-Worrying that your penis isn’t “up to par”;
-Worrying about ejaculating too soon or taking too long to reach orgasm;
-Anxiety about not being able to have an orgasm or not being able to enjoy the sexual experience.
These things can cause your body to release stress hormones like adrenaline and norepinephrine.
Symptoms
Your mood can have a big impact on your ability to get excited. Even if you’re with someone you find sexually attractive, worrying about whether you’ll be able to please them can make it impossible for you to do so. One of the effects of stress hormones is to narrow blood vessels. When less blood flows to the penis, it is more difficult to get an erection. Even men who normally have no difficulty getting aroused may be unable to get an erection when overwhelmed by sexual performance anxiety.
Sexual performance anxiety is not diagnosed as often in women as in men, but it can also affect their arousal. Anxiety can prevent them from being lubricated enough to have sex and can eliminate the physical desire to make love.
Anxiety can hinder your thoughts during sex. When you’re focused on your performance, you can’t focus on what you’re doing in bed. Even if you manage to get aroused, you may be too distracted to achieve orgasm. Sexual performance anxiety leads to a cycle of problems. You may be so anxious about sex that you can’t have it, which leads to even more anxiety about sexual performance.
Overcoming sexual performance anxiety
If you suffer from sexual performance anxiety, see a doctor, someone you feel comfortable enough to discuss your sex life with. Your doctor will examine you and run some tests to make sure a health problem or medication is not causing your problems.
During the exam, your doctor will ask you about your sexual history to find out how long you have had sexual performance anxiety and what types of thoughts are interfering with your sex life. Medications and other therapies can help treat erectile dysfunction and other sexual problems with physical causes. If a medical problem isn’t to blame, he or she may suggest you try one of these approaches:
Talk to a therapist: Make an appointment with a psychologist or therapist experienced in treating sexual problems. Therapy can help you a) understand and then reduce or eliminate the problems causing your sexual performance anxiety. If you’re worried about premature ejaculation, for example, you can try some techniques that help you have more control.
Be open with your partner: Talking to the other person about your anxiety can help ease some of your worries. When you try to find a solution together, you can grow closer as a couple and improve your sexual relationship.
Get intimate in other ways: Learn how to be intimate without sexual intercourse. Give your partner a sensual massage or take a hot bath together. Take turns pleasuring each other with masturbation, so you don’t always have to feel pressured to perform sexual acts.
Exercise: Working out not only makes you feel better about your body, but it also improves your stamina in bed.
Distract yourself: Play some romantic music or a sexy movie while you make love. Think of something that excites you. Taking your mind off sexual performance can eliminate the worries that keep you from getting excited.
Finally, go easy on yourself. Don’t beat yourself up about your looks or your skills in bed. Get help for sexual performance anxiety so you can get back to a healthy, enjoyable sex life.
Source: WebMD
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
