Impotence (Erectile Dysfunction)
Article by Paul Douglass
In this article, we'll take a look at impotence (erectile dysfunction), we'll talk about what impotence (erectile dysfunction) is, how it afftects people, and what can be done about it....
- What are the symptoms of impotence?
- When can impotence occur?
- What can the psychological causes of impotence be?
- What can the physical causes of impotence be?
- What can I do if I have impotence?
- Can hypnotherapy help with impotence?
What are the symptoms of impotence (Erectile Dysfunction)?
Impotence (also commonly known as Erectile Dysfunction), is a condition where a man finds it difficult to maintain an erection long enough to have sex.
Impotence (Erectile Dysfunction) can usually be described as being in one of three main groups, depending on how the impotence affects the man...
Difficulty in getting an erection
This is where the man finds it difficult to get an erection, even though there may be direct stimulation, or sexual excitement. The man might find that he only has difficulty on some occasions, whereas other times his erection is fine, or he might find that he only has trouble getting an erection when he is with someone, and is fine when he is on his own.
Difficulty in maintaining an erection
This is where although the man may be able to get an erection in readiness for a sexual act, he finds that his erection doesn't last long enough for that sexual act to take place.
Difficulty in achieving penetration
In this case, the impotence may prevent the man from maintaining an erection, or achieving a hard enough erection for sex to take place.
When can impotence (Erectile Dysfunction) occur?
A man can find that Impotence can stike at any time in his life... some men find that it happens from the very first time they try to become sexually active, while some other men will find that they encounter impotence later in life.
Often, the man will find that impotence is only problem when he's feeling stressed or anxious, whereas at other times, his sexual function is perfectly ok.
What can the psychological causes of impotence (erectile dysfunction) be?
Impotence (erectile dysfunction) can have many possible psychological causes, and these can include...
- Anxiety - Sometimes a man will find that he suffers from impotence mainly when he's feeling anxious, wereas the impotence doesn't really affect him if he's not anxious
- Stres - Again similat to anxiety, impotence can only appear when the man is stressed
- Boredom - The man might feel that he is bored about something about his sex life... maybe he's bored with his partner, or the fact that sex seems the same every time
- Performance Anxiety - A man might find that he has a problem with impotence (erectile dysfunction) when he's worrying about what his partner might think of him or his sexual performance
- Emotional Conflict - impotence can be caused by an unresolved emotional conflict from the part... this cause of impotence can respond partucularly well to a form of hypnotherapy known as pure hypnoanalysis
- The fear of being judged - impotence can be caused by the worry about what other people think of you... again, this can respond particularly well to pure hypnoanalysis
- Anticipation - impotence can be caused by the anticipation of an upcoming sexual encounter... the sheer worry of impotence (erectile dysfunction) striking can cause impotence to happen
- Fear of Pregnancy - The worry of getting the girl pregnant can cause a man to suffer from impotence
- Past Experiences of Impotence - If a man has had impotence (erectile dysfunction) in the past, he may find that the memory of this happening can play on his mind, and impotence may occur again
- Worrying About Using Contraception - A man many find that he may worry about contraception. Condoms in particular can cause a man to experience impotence because he's not confident with using condoms, or dislike them because they change 'how it feels'
- Guilt - A man might experience impotence if he feels guilty for some reason during sex (for example if he's having an affair, or if he's started a new sexual relationship 'on the rebound' from another one)
- Upbringing - If a man grew up in an environment where sex was considered 'dirty', or a 'sin', then his natural inclination might be to try to suppress his sexual urges
- Depression - If a man is feeling depressed he may experience impotence, and if he does, this can make him more depressed, and this can become 'cyclical'
- Relationship Problems - A man might find that sex can become difficult for him if the relationship is having difficulty, and when sex does occur, he might find impotence is a problem
- Lack of Confidence - If a man feels lacking in confidence generally, or specifically about his sexual performance, this worry can cause him to experience impotence
- Low Self Esteem - If a man has low self esteem or low self worth, he might feel unworthy of his partner, or of having sex at all, and this can cause impotence
- Tiredness - If a man feels tired when sex takes place (for example if he's had a long day at work), then he might find that impotence gets in the way
What can the physical causes of impotence (erectile dysfunction) be?
As you can see from the list above, there can be a wide range of possible psychological causes of impotence (erectile dysfunction), but what about the physical or medical ones?
What problems can cause impotence (erectile dysfunction)?
Well, some common ones include...
- Injury to the penis
- Damaged testicles
- Nervous system injury
- High cholesterol
- Circulation problems
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Alcohol
- Obesity
- Drug use
- Hormonal imbalance
IF you feel you might have a physical or medical cause to your impotence, then be sure to get it checked out by your G.P.
What can I do if I have impotence (erectile dysfunction)?
- Talk to your partner - If you have an understanding and supportive partner, talking to them may well help with your impotence (erectile dysfunction), because you may feel like you've got support
- Talk to your G.P. - They may well be able to put your mind at ease by ruling out physical causes of your impotence, or if there is a physical cause, they may be able to suggest a suitable treatment for you
- If you are overweight, try to lose some weight
- If you smoke, stop smoking
- Feel proud of yourself that you aren't just 'living with' impotence (erectile dysfunction), you're actively looking into the causes of it, and maybe looking to get help with your impotence
Can hypnotherapy help with impotence (erectile dysfunction)?
There is a form of hypnotherapy that we practice that really can help with impotence where there is a psychological cause.
For example, if a man suffers from impotence because of anxiety, when we use pure hypnoanalysis to successfully treat the anxiety, then once the anxiety goes, so can the impotence.
Pure hypnoanalysis can help you to completely resolve these ‘underlying’ issues, and when you've done that, not only does the 'underlying issue' (anxiety or stress for example) disappear, so does the impotence.
Rather than temporarily 'managing' the problem therefore, you can resolve the problem once and for all.
Come and Meet Paul or Denise!
If you're in Cambridgeshire, why not come and meet one of us for a chat?
Come along to our Cambridgeshire practice, and you'll get a very warm welcome... we can have a good chat about it all, and see what might be the best way forward for you from here.
If you're not in our area, still get in touch, and we might be able to put you in touch with someone in your area.
