Mental health has become one of the most pressing health issues that the world has had to face. In fact, it’s quickly become one of the most widespread diseases in the world, with estimates stating that over 792 million people live with a mental disorder. One of the most common mental disorders is anxiety. The Institute for Health Metrics Evaluation also highlights how 300 million people worldwide suffer from anxiety. Anxiety is usually coupled with stress, as stress is a common trigger for anxiety.
And while anxiety and stress have already been linked to many conditions, such as heart disease and high blood pressure, it also affects men in a very specific way. If you want to learn more about this, read on as we talk about how stress and anxiety affect erectile dysfunction (ED).
How Stress and Anxiety Cause Erectile Dysfunction
As we’ve mentioned above, stress and anxiety can also affect a man’s physical health. To fully understand how these conditions affect ED, we first have to talk about the types of erections. There are three different types of erections: reflexive, psychogenic, and nocturnal. Reflexive is caused by physical stimulation, psychogenic is due to visual or mental arousal, and nocturnal erections occur during sleep. Now, you must know that anxiety and stress cause ED by disrupting the processes linked to these forms of stimulation.
The two conditions can disrupt these processes, as a person’s mental health condition can spill over to their physical health. This is even more evident as an individual’s nervous system, blood vessels, muscles, and hormones can be affected by one’s mental health. Stress and anxiety can also worsen several different health conditions that affect ED, and a study has suggested that ED can be an indicator of future cardiovascular diseases.
Aside from the physical effects of stress and anxiety, the condition can also push you towards a lifestyle that further aggravates ED. This is because people who are suffering from anxiety and stress are more prone to illicit drug use, tobacco use, and alcohol abuse. Lastly, the emotional toll that comes with these conditions will also play a part when it comes to ED.
How to Deal with Stress and Anxiety
So, how do you deal with the stress and anxiety? It would be hard to treat anxiety without knowing what’s causing it in the first place. This is why the first thing you have to do is to determine the cause and the triggers. Once you determine the trigger for your anxiety and stress, you will then have to do your best to reduce exposure to these triggers.
Another way to go about this is to consult with a therapist. Therapists can help work through the causes and triggers that cause your anxiety and stress. Doing so may even provide a long-term solution to your condition, which can help alleviate your anxiety-related ED.
Conclusion
While taking care of your physical health is a great way to address ED, you can’t neglect your mental well-being as it also factors in when it comes to your condition. Hopefully, understanding the connection between anxiety and ED can help you get through this issue.
If you’re looking to get help for your erectile dysfunction, the Men’s Health Clinic has got you covered. Contact us today to speak with an expert so that we can start talking about the best options for your treatment!
