Your brain plays a leading role in your sex life – your genitals do the work but your brain coordinates the rest. Your brain is what takes in stimuli and processes them. However, there is more to sex than responding to a look or touch from your partner.
Your brain is also answering questions about whether or not you can trust your partner, what they think about your body, whether or not they can become pregnant and if you’re safe from STIs. Those who are already struggling with anxiety can have quite a difficult time in the bedroom.
Understanding Anxiety
Everyone experiences anxiety differently. For some, big life changes such as getting married or changing jobs keep them up at night. For others, their anxiety stems from how they think others perceive them or knowing how to handle a dispute with a neighbour.
When anxiety is not addressed, it can start affecting multiple areas of your life, including your sex life. Anxiety can impair your sexual function and lead to less time in the bedroom as well as relationship and confidence issues.
The Connection between Anxiety and Sex
When you’re constantly anxious or you are concerned about aspects such as the size of your penis, here are some of the ways that it can start affecting your sex life.
Reduced sexual desire. Many patients who turn to CALIBRE clinic for assistance tend to experience a lower sex drive because of how they feel about penis size.
Poor performance. People who are overly worried about pleasing their partners tend to experience poor performance in the bedroom. Many men develop erectile dysfunction due to their anxiety – fortunately, this can be addressed.
Difficulty reaching orgasm. Since anxiety can have a cumulative effect, reaching orgasm can be more difficult.
Relationship problems. Anxiety can also cause people to want to stop dating or it can cause problems in their existing relationships.
Addressing Anxiety
Speak to a professional. Sometimes you simply can’t manage anxiety on your own, which is why it helps to speak to a medical professional about your concerns. Your doctor will provide you with recommendations based on your specific needs.
Consider therapy. Whether this is sex therapy or couples counselling, speaking to a psychologist can turn your sex life around.
Be open with your partner. If you’re struggling with anxiety and you feel it is affecting your relationship, be as open and honest as you can with your partner.
Turn to intimacy. Often getting back to basics is what you need to do to make things work in your relationship. Take the time to focus on intimacy again to ease your anxiety in the bedroom.
Know that it’s ok to say no. If you are going through a particularly stressful time in your life, know that it’s completely fine to decline sex if you just aren’t in the right head space for it. Forcing it can often lead to more anxiety than is necessary.