Written by the UPGUYS Editorial Team

Published on January 27, 2022

Stress and anxiety are inseparable parts of our lives, no matter how old we are or what stage of life we are living in. There are there, and there is no running away from them. We can be at a certain age and suddenly realize that we are getting old; we might find ourselves in a middle of an ugly breakup; we might reach the dilemma of talking to our boss for getting a promotion or taking the high road. There are hundreds of examples that we deal with on a daily basis. 

Honestly, it is bad enough that we have to live with all these circumstances without the impact of the stress they create on every other aspect of life! You get stuck in a bad situation; You get stressed; Then the same stress causes an even worse situation. Nothing about this seems fair!

One of the things stress and anxiety can worsen is their effect on erectile dysfunction (ED). In this article, ED, the causes, the impacts, and the treatments are discussed. But before getting more into details, let me give you the great news first:

Most underlying causes of ED are easily identified and cured! 

So, take a deep breath and do not add to the stress just yet. Read this article to the end to learn more!

Main Causes of ED

According to studies, almost half of the men deal with erectile dysfunction (ED) at some point in their lives. The chances of ED increase as we age. But age is not the only factor. What causes ED can be divided into three main categories: physical, psychological, and a combination of both. 

Physical Reasons

Erection, whether caused by physical or visual stimulations or you got it during sleep (nocturnal), needs the bodily system to work and to be maintained. Mainly the nerve system that transfers the messages between the organs and the brain, the blood flow, and the heart. Consequently, if the system is down, so is the member in question. 

These are a few physical problems that can cause ED:

1. Heart disease
2. Clogged blood vessels (atherosclerosis)
3. High blood pressure
4. Diabetes
5. Obesity
6. High cholesterol
7. Metabolic syndrome — a condition including multiple risk factors specific for cardiovascular disease
8. Parkinson's disease
9. Multiple sclerosis
10. Certain prescription medications
11. Peyronie's disease — development of scar tissue inside the penis
12. Prostate cancer or enlarged prostate
13. Pelvic area or spinal cord Surgeries
14. Low testosterone

So, if you have experienced ED frequently enough, talk to your healthcare provider at your earliest convenience. With the right questions and check-ups, they determine if the problem is an underlying physical condition. If so, with the proper medications, life gets back to normal pretty fast. 

Psychological Reasons

Stress and anxiety can change the performance of our bodies for the worse. They directly affect the messages the brain sends to our body's different parts. Reproductive organs in men and women are the most affected and interrupted when it comes to anxiety. The blood flow to the penis does not increase after being stimulated, and erection either doesn’t happen or doesn’t last long enough. Then when the ED occurs, the stress doubles again. 

Men of all ages experience psychological ED. Almost all teenagers get it because of getting stressed and anxious. But, it’s very short-lived. Middle-aged men experience it due to their professional and money problems. Older men, on the other hand, experience psychological ED on account of impotence or loneliness. 

Combination of Both Physical & Psychological Reasons

Remember this: If and when we let stress and anxiety drive us for long, they worsen the physical health of our bodies rather permanently, which ultimately affects many things, including our performance in the bedroom. The following are the conditions that have a direct influence on ED, and vice versa:

1. vascular disease
2. nerve damage
3. high blood pressure
4. heart disease
5. diabetes
6. obesity
7. high cholesterol
8. low testosterone
9. metabolic syndrome
10. prostate cancer or enlarged prostate

Other Factors Resulting in ED

Many major events in life lead to stress and, therefore, increase the chances of ED. Aging, changes in your well-being, career, relationships, and financial problems are among those. 

Apart from the above-mentioned life events (and many more), there are certain lifestyle changes that can also contribute to ED. Like:

1. Excessive use of alcohol
2. Tobacco and other smoking products
3. Lack of exercise
4. Drugs
5. Sleeping disorder
6. Sedentary or inactive lifestyle

Any change made in lifestyle to make it healthier has a positive impact on physical health, including ED. So, it’s worth renewing your gym membership and remembering to walk a couple of minutes every hour in the middle of work. If you do that, a better, healthier life is around the corner.

How to Handle Stress

Research and science have the most proof and records of the effectiveness of medications and traditional therapies when it comes to ED. Having said that, you can find many other techniques and activities that benefit us regarding stress and anxiety. These are a few examples:

1. Sharing our concerns and worries with our partner
2. Counselling
3. Sex therapy
4. Anxiety therapy
5. Meditation
6. Yoga
7. Regular exercise
8. Relaxation techniques
9. Acupuncture 

Seek Medical Help

As mentioned above, most of the time, men experience ED due to an underlying physical condition. So, if you are experiencing it more frequently than what feels OK to you, contact your healthcare provider asap. Your doctor will quickly identify what the problem is and offers a solution.