If you find it difficult to achieve or maintain an erection during sex but you don’t have any physical issues that could be causing it, you might have psychological erectile dysfunction. Fortunately, overcoming psychological ED is entirely possible for men, especially for those who take an active approach to treating it. As you look for a psychological ED cure, learn more about psychological ED and the three best ways to overcome it.
What Is Psychological ED?
In contrast to ED caused by a physical condition, psychological ED is caused by a psychological issue. Psychological ED can come from a number of emotional or psychological factors that make it difficult to achieve or sustain an erection during sex. Some top factors that often cause psychological sexual dysfunction include anxiety, depression, sleep problems, relationship difficulties, low self-confidence, stress, and guilt.
With so many different physical and psychological factors that can cause ED, anyone suffering from ED will need to see a healthcare provider to receive a psychological ED diagnosis. After a doctor rules out any physical factors that would cause ED, they may diagnose you with psychological ED.
3 Tips for Overcoming Psychological ED
If you’ve been diagnosed or suspect you have psychological ED, the good news is that you can do something about it. Review the top three tips for overcoming psychological sexual dysfunction below:
1. Psychotherapy and Medication
Though you might not want to talk about your struggles with ED, seeing a trained therapist can be a great way to tackle any emotions that could be causing psychological ED. Due to the privacy of a therapist’s office, you can speak honestly and confront feelings often linked to ED, such as inadequacy, performance anxiety, shame, or guilt. In therapy, you can get to the root cause of the distressing emotions you feel and practice healthier responses to them.
Besides speaking with a mental health specialist, a healthcare provider may recommend certain medications to treat any underlying mental issues. For example, a healthcare professional may prescribe an anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication if you suffer from depression or an anxiety disorder. While these medications can sometimes cause ED, they don’t always come with these side effects, making them a great option for some men struggling with psychological ED.
2. Couples Counseling
If you’re in a relationship and struggling with psychological ED, one of the best ways to address your ED and build a stronger relationship with your partner is couples counseling. Like individual counseling, a trained therapist will conduct couples counseling, ensuring the process is entirely confidential. In couples counseling, you’ll have the chance to speak honestly with your partner about any issues in your relationship and your ED, helping you both confront any problems or feelings you’ve been avoiding.
Since a couples counselor is trained to guide these conversations, it can be an effective way to discuss other related relationship issues that might be causing the ED in the first place. It can also help you build trust and find ways for both of you to enjoy sex, even when your ED isn’t fully solved. Keep in mind that your partner may also be going through complicated emotions, so couples counseling can foster the healthy communication necessary to increase emotional intimacy and improve your sex life.
3. Shockwave Therapy
While shockwave therapy focuses on addressing the main physical causes of ED in men, it can be a great treatment option for psychological ED when combined with the tips above. Sometimes called Low-Intensity Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment that targets the root causes behind ED in men and can even boost sexual performance. Due to the many ways shockwave therapy improves blood flow and targets the main causes of ED, it’s been shown to have a more than 75% success rate in treating ED.
During treatment, a healthcare professional uses a wand-like device that emits low-intensity sound waves aimed at the penis. As these sound waves work their magic, they’ll clean out plaque in your blood vessels, which restrict blood flow and harm your erection’s strength. On top of clearing out plaque, they’ll stimulate growth factors and activate stem cells that will create new blood vessels to increase blood flow. Activating dormant stem cells can also repair scar tissue and improve penile sensitivity.
Since the treatment improves blood flow and increases sensitivity, it can make it easier for men to receive an erection and enjoy sex more, leading to increased self-confidence in the bedroom. It’s also important to note that some forms of ED can stem from a mix of psychological factors and physical issues, such as plaque formation. By receiving shockwave therapy treatment, you can lower the risk of physical issues slowing your psychological ED recovery.
Find a GAINSWave®-Certified Shockwave Therapy Provider Near You to Overcome Psychological ED
If you’re looking for a psychological ED cure and interested in shockwave therapy, turn to GAINSWave. As the leader in sexual wellness, GAINSWave aims to help men struggling with ED take charge of their life again. Due to this commitment, we offer a nationwide network of GAINSWave-certified shockwave therapy providers. Before we certify any of our providers, they have to meet our rigorous standards for medical protocols, equipment, and care, ensuring our patients receive an exceptional experience. Find out more about shockwave therapy for ED today. If you’re interested in receiving shockwave therapy for psychological sexual dysfunction, take our short candidacy questionnaire. Once your candidacy is determined, use our directory to find a GAINSWave-certified provider near you.
