Stress and Sexual Weakness in Men

When stressed, the body initiates the "fight or flight" syndrome, which sends blood from the abdomen out to the arms and legs for escape or self-defense. As a result, less blood is available for erection. Stress also constricts the arteries, including the ones that carry blood into the penis.

Understanding and knowing how to deal with it

Stress is a psychological condition affecting most of us at some part of life and it is an unavoidable part and parcel of life. Without stress, there would be no life. It is the "wear and tear" our bodies experience as we adjust to our continually changing environment. It has physical and emotional effects on us and can create positive or negative feelings.

It can help compel us to action; it can result in a new awareness and an exciting new perspective but it can result in feelings of distrust, rejection, anger, and depression, which in turn can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, rashes, insomnia, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. With the death of a loved one, the birth of a child, a job promotion, or a new relationship, we experience stress as we readjust to our new lives. In so adjusting to different circumstances, stress will help or hinder us depending on how we react to it. Good or bad, if it is a CHANGE in your life, it is stress as far as your body is concerned.

Even imagined change is stress. The American Institute of Stress is committed to developing a better understanding of how to tap into the vast innate potential that resides in each of us for preventing disease and promoting health. Good health is more than just the absence of illness. Rather, it is a very robust state of physical and emotional well-being, that acknowledges the importance and inseparability of mind/body relationships.

Causes

Stress affects us all. Mentioned below are few major things that cause stress in our lives:

a) General causes

• Threat
• Fear
• Uncertainty
• Cognitive dissonance

b) Life causes

• Death: of spouse, family, friend
• Health: injury, illness, pregnancy
• Crime: sexual molestation, mugging, burglary, pick-pocketed
• Family change: separation, divorce, new baby, marriage
• Physical changes: lack of sleep, new work hours
• Argument: with spouse, family, friends, co-workers, boss
• Self-abuse: drug abuse, alcoholism, self-harm
• Responsibility increase: new dependent, new job
• Money: lack of it, owing it, investing it
• New location: vacation, moving house
• Environment change: in school, job, house, town, jail
• Sexual problems: getting partner, with partner

c) Other stress indicators include

• Sickness absence
• High staff turnover
• Boring and mundane work
• Lack of training
• Lack of clarity of roles and responsibilities
• Uncomfortable workplace
• Dissatisfaction with non-monetary benefits
• Poor communication between teams
• Technological change
• Value and contribution
• Lack of feedback on performance
• Working long hours
• One-off incidents
• Bullying

If stress is related to ED, doctor may be able to provide help directly, with one of the many effective ED treatments now available. The doctor is also best placed to consider all the aspects of condition, and may refer to another local professional such as a counsellor.