Mental health issues can affect our daily life and routine activities, and for men, it can affect their sexual performance and their ability to get an erection. Some researchers have found that nearly a quarter of men with erectile dysfunction (ED) may also experience depression, anxiety, or both, although we don’t really know what the prevalent problem is.
However, we do know that the link between mental health and erectile dysfunction is real. This is how depression and anxiety can turn brain signals into a penis and what steps can be taken to overcome them.
How are Depression and Anxiety Related to Erectile Dysfunction?
When it comes to sexual performance, there is good and bad stress, including depression and anxiety. When your brain is under healthy stress, for example from exercise, a new relationship, or a career promotion, your body tends to release testosterone. When you are sexually stimulated, this extra testosterone helps relax the blood vessels in the penis and cause erections.
However, when your brain experiences unhealthy stress, such as traumatic events, relationship problems, or stress at work, your body can release a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol narrows the blood vessels in your penis. When blood cannot flow properly through your penis, it may be difficult for you to get an erection.
Over time, chronic stress (chronically elevated cortisol levels) decreases the amount of testosterone produced by your body. Low testosterone, also known as “low T,” is common in men with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety who have erectile dysfunction.
What can I do about it?
While the answer to this question is different for everyone, your doctor will take three main steps to help you with your erectile dysfunction if you also have depression or anxiety.
1) Find out if your erectile dysfunction is caused by another health problem.
Most of the symptoms of erectile dysfunction (including painful premature ejaculation) are related to physical (not mental) conditions, so it’s important to make sure your body is in good physical health. Things like diabetes, smoking, heart disease, and prostate cancer are common causes of erectile dysfunction. If you are otherwise in good physical health but suffer from depression or anxiety, your doctor will proceed to step
2) Treat your depression or anxiety
When erectile dysfunction is caused by depression or anxiety, your caregivers primarily focus on treating your mental health issues, whether through therapy or prescription medication. If you can alleviate your psychological stressors, your ED symptoms will likely improve as well.
Psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are useful ways that can help treat a variety of mental health issues. These are usually the first choices when you are depressed or anxious. If treatment alone is not enough, your doctor may also recommend prescription medication. While some men may find it embarrassing to take mental health medication, you know it can have a major impact on your quality of life. Also, keep in mind that many antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications take 4-6 weeks before they really work, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t notice any changes immediately.
As with all treatment plans, always maintain open communication with your healthcare provider about your feelings so they can adjust anything if necessary.
3) Treat erectile dysfunction immediately.
Sometimes, even if you have decided how to deal with your mental issues, you can still show symptoms of erectile dysfunction. For example, erectile dysfunction is a possible side effect of many antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs, and substituting drugs for mental health problems is not always the best choice. In this case, drugs that only treat erectile dysfunction are available, such as sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis).
Some men also find sex counseling (sometimes called sex therapy) to be beneficial. This type of therapy focuses on improving
Other considerations
In recent years, we have received more and more questions about erectile dysfunction caused by pornography. While watching these kinds of videos is not a mental illness, it has to do with the fact that the mind affects sexual health.
Little research has been done in this area, but studies so far have shown that the more men watch pornographic videos, the more symptoms of erectile dysfunction they show. The men in these studies were otherwise in good health and were under 40 years of age. Many of these men found that over time they had to watch more videos or watch more extreme content in order to get an erection. Many have also found that they cannot enjoy sex with their partners. Fortunately, research shows that this phenomenon can be reversed if one does not watch porn for several weeks. So if it all comes home, try to disconnect for a bit and see if that helps.
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Depression and anxiety are two very common health problems in the United States and unfortunately can cause or worsen erectile dysfunction. Be aware that there are many options to help you with mental health issues and erectile dysfunction. The key is to talk to your doctor or contact a psychologist. Together they try to find a solution that works for you.