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Psychological erectile dysfunction

26. February 2023 | Erection problems

Erectile dysfunction – Treat successfully with the right therapy

Erectile dysfunction can be caused by psychological and/or physical factors. In younger men, it’s often due to psychological reasons, while in older men, physical causes are more prevalent. To successfully treat erectile dysfunction, it’s essential to identify and address the underlying causes. For physical causes, lifestyle changes and medical treatments for pre-existing conditions can be helpful. For psychological causes, therapies and relaxation exercises are effective options to consider.

Why does the psyche affect erection?

A sexual stimulus such as a gentle touch or a beautiful sight is sent to the brain, which then transmits it as a “command” to the sexual organs. The penis swells with blood. However, if one is afraid of the possibility of sex, this leads to the opposite effect: the penis becomes flaccid. This is known as a mental block. How one feels and their emotional state can affect the body.

The mental block: How stress affects erections

The body responds to stress or anxiety by releasing stress hormones such as cortisol or adrenaline. These put the person on alert and can help them react better and faster with increased blood pressure and heart rate. However, this comes at a price: constricted blood vessels, which can impair erections. Thus, stress or anxiety can cause erectile dysfunction. Conversely, a stress-induced erectile dysfunction can be resolved by eliminating the stress.

Common causes of psychological erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction can have various psychological causes, ranging from stress and work overload, to low self-esteem and critical life events such as the death of a loved one. The most common psychological causes of erectile problems are:

  • Depression, loss
  • Anxiety, e.g. about health, pregnancy, future, finances
  • Stress, e.g. time pressure, sensory overload, job overload
  • Conflicts, e.g. in partnerships or family
  • Low self-esteem, e.g. fear of failure, performance pressure
  • Negative sexual experiences, e.g. assault, abuse, or pain.

Symptoms of psychologically induced erectile dysfunction

Neither the causes nor the consequences of psychogenic erectile problems are sexy. Hardly anyone talks about it. Not about depression or anxiety. Not about the absent erection. As a result, affected men often do not know how to interpret the symptoms. The cause of their suffering remains hidden, and the problem remains unresolved.

How can you tell whether erectile dysfunction is caused by organic or psychogenic factors? Unlike organic erectile dysfunction, an erection is generally possible with psychogenic causes. The following symptoms are indicative of psychogenic erectile dysfunction:

  • The erectile dysfunction occurred suddenly, e.g., at the same time as conflicts or problems.
  • The erection only occasionally fails, or only in specific situations, e.g., during sex with a partner, but not during a one-night stand or watching porn.
  • There are night or morning erections, the so-called morning wood.
  • There is a reduced desire for sex.

Erectile dysfunction can have multiple causes, both organic and psychological. Therefore, it is always advisable to investigate both possible causes. For the best possible therapy, e.rupt therefore relies on a comprehensive diagnosis, including an (anonymous) blood test and a psychological test.

So how do I know if I have erectile dysfunction?

Hardly any man is always able. Hardly any man always wants to. However, if the mental block and the boycott in bed persist, action is necessary. Whether you are affected or not can be easily checked: With the online self-test from e.rupt, you can find out immediately, anonymously, and free of charge if you are suffering from erectile dysfunction:

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Start Test
How often were you able to get an erection during sexual activity?
When you had erections with sexual stimulation, how often were your erections hard enough for penetration?
When you attempted intercourse, how often were you able to penetrate (enter) your partner?
During sexual intercourse, how often were you able to maintain your erection after you had penetrated (entered) your partner?
During sexual intercourse, how difficult was it to maintain your erection to completion of intercourse?
How do you rate your confidence that you could get and keep an erection?
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Can potency drugs help with mental blocks?

If stress, depression, anxiety, or negative experiences in bed cause erectile dysfunction, then it is essential to eliminate these factors. This can be done, for example, by reducing stress, changing living conditions, or overcoming fears and depression through therapy via an app or therapist. This is the only way to solve the problem permanently.

In addition, positive experiences can also help to remove mental blocks, for example, when potency drugs help to achieve an erection. However, caution is advised here. In the case of psychological erectile dysfunction, potency drugs only alleviate the symptom, not the cause. Regular use of potency drugs can therefore reinforce the belief that it is not possible without them and lead to psychological dependence. In addition, potency drugs for better blood circulation in the penis, such as Viagra, are unsafe. Numerous deaths of young men have been documented, especially in cases of abuse. Therefore, we strongly advise against self-medication without a doctor’s recommendation.