Expert tips for overcoming performance anxiety and improving sexual confidence
What is Anxiety About Sexual Performance?
It is natural to feel worried before having sex. However, feeling so scared that you can't have or enjoy sex might be a sign of sexual performance anxiety (SPA). SPA is a sort of performance anxiety that mostly impacts sexual activities. A person suffering with this problem is frequently gripped by the worry of being unable to perform either before or during sexual activity.This illness affects men more than women. It can also lead to the development of sexual diseases such as erectile dysfunction. Sexual performance anxiety is one of the most frequent sexual problems in the world today.
Symptoms of Sexual Performance Anxiety
Symptoms of sexual performance anxiety typically include:
- Having little or no interest in engaging in sexual activities
- Premature ejaculation when you have sex
- Being unable to have or sustain an erection
- Finding it difficult to orgasm during sex
Symptoms of sexual performance anxiety, however, look a little different in women. Women with this condition might experience:
- Vaginal dryness
- Difficulty getting aroused
- Experiencing some pain during sex
Causes of Sexual Performance Anxiety :
When you are worried, your body undergoes particular changes that may impair your sexual performance. When you are nervous, your hormone levels rise, including norepinephrine and cortisol. A rise in these hormone levels raises your blood pressure, which may reduce blood flow to your penis, preventing you from obtaining or maintaining an erection.
There is no one reason for sexual performance anxiety. It is often caused by a combination of biological and psychological causes, including:
- Having body image and self-esteem difficulties
- You are emotionally estranged from your relationship
- Managing Mental Health Conditions
- Inadequate sexual experience
- Previous traumatic or bad sexual experiences
- Consuming excessive amounts of sexual content
- Erectile difficulties (ED)
SPA may occasionally feed on itself, resulting in an unhappy cycle. It begins with a person feeling apprehensive before sex, which compromises their performance, and then they get more more concerned the next time they participate in sexual activity since they were unable to perform the previous time.
How to Handle Sexual Performance Anxiety
The first step in dealing with sexual performance anxiety is to let go of any guilt you may be experiencing about not having an ideal sex life. In some cases, sexual performance anxiety fades with time, especially if you have a new sexual partner or have resolved a relationship issue with your spouse.
People who suffer from sexual performance anxiety frequently believe that they are insufficient or incapable of satisfying their relationships. Focusing on your delight and that of your partner rather than how well you perform will help you overcome your anxiousness.
Here are some other suggestions to assist you overcome SPA:
- Meditation is frequently suggested for dealing with any type of performance anxiety
- Masturbation: Spend some time alone with yourself to better understand your personal requirements
- Get out of your head: When having sex, try to spend more time enjoying the sensations than stressing about what may go wrong
- Recognize that sex is not always ideal. Some days, you might not want to have sex. This is most likely unrelated to your physical abilities
- Slow down, take your time, and communicate with your spouse. You may have not spent enough time participating in foreplay for both you and your companion
- Remove stress from your life by doing the following: Stress about other aspects of your life, such as income or job, might contribute to sexual performance anxiety. Stress management techniques such as meditation, exercise, and adequate rest can be beneficial
- Consult a therapist: Speaking with a sex therapist may assist you in determining the source of your sexual performance anxiety