Erectile dysfunction is an increasing problem in modern society. This disorder involves multiple factors that may have different origins: organic, relational, and intrapsychic. Body and mind are interconnected, so after eliminating organic factors, it is necessary to focus attention on relational or/and intrapsychic factors.
One of the potential psychological causes underlying erectile dysfunction is performance anxiety.
In a very synthetic way, sexual performance anxiety involves the penis; it develops when a man hyper-invests on his sexual performance, by tying his self-esteem to the positive judgment of his partner. His gratification lies in the outcome; in case of failure, experiences of inadequacy, shame, and failure can overwhelm the individual and cause high levels of anticipatory anxiety in future situations. Being too focused on results precludes enjoying the path and having a healthy sexuality. This disorder can be treated effectively, through the intervention of a psychotherapist.
TREATMENT
The first step is to admit the presence of a problem, decide to make time to deal with it, and find a competent person with whom to treat the distress.
Working on anxiety means investigating conflicts, fears and underlying preconceptions to try to reduce the individual's level of activation.
Psychotherapy seeks to focus on the different components of the problem: it aims to analyse and modify dysfunctional behaviours; it investigates relationaship patterns, with the goal of developing and encouraging effective communication within the couple; and it will explore and reframe stress, expectations, beliefs, taboos and values; the goal is to try to restore a functional balance.
Once the organic problem is ruled out, resolution of the problem comes through lowering anxiety levels, facilitating the free expression of sexual arousal.
It becomes essential to eliminate the cognitive or libido blocks that have been created and re-establish the mind-body connection by also working on bodily sensations, e.g. tactile/olfactory.
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