How anxiety affects sexuality

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Extract from the article: Sexual intercourse is supposed to be a moment of communion, pleasure and relaxation. But stress and anxiety can spoil this feeling and replace it with a malaise that's hard to overcome. How do anxiety disorders affect sex...

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Sexual intercourse is supposed to be a moment of communion, pleasure and relaxation. But stress and anxiety can spoil this feeling and replace it with a malaise that's hard to overcome. How do anxiety disorders affect sex life?

Any form of anxiety is a distraction that limits sexual well-being. Whether the feeling of anxiety is temporary or you suffer from a chronic illness such as generalised anxiety disorder, it complicates communication with your partner and pleasure in bed.

Feelings of anxiety can lower libido in a number of ways. Panic and worry have an effect on the mind and body, increasing the production of stress hormones such as adrenaline. The drugs used to treat anxiety also have side effects. Learn to recognise the consequences of anxiety on your sex life so that you can find solutions, particularly with the help of a specialist.

Embarrassment

Undressing in front of someone for the first time is a frightening experience for everyone. But when anxiety invites itself into the bedroom, the feeling of embarrassment increases even more, as does the risk of obsessing about what you consider to be your physical defects. Anxiety increases self-consciousness, as well as general shame about one's body or certain parts of it.

Intimacy

When fear and panic take over, partners may not want to get physically or emotionally close. For women suffering from anxiety following a sex-related trauma, intimacy can become all the more frightening. The body can go into shutdown mode, unable to feel aroused enough to have sex. Without realising it, sex or foreplay may be avoided, which can create tension in the couple.

Communication

Even close partners often find it difficult to share their desires and fantasies. Anxiety can make the situation worse. But opening up to your partner and honestly expressing your sexual preferences can be a real relief. It's hard to cope when the adrenaline's pumping and you feel in constant danger.

Orgasm

Tense muscles, shallow breathing, goose bumps and many other anxiety-related symptoms prevent partners from letting go and reaching orgasm. The cause is reduced lubrication, pain, even vaginismus, and a general tension that prevents the vaginal muscles from relaxing. These problems, combined with anxious thoughts, can interfere with sexual stimulation and inhibit orgasm.

William O.