For most people, sexuality is an integral and treasured part of life. Whether it is expressed solo, with a partner, or in a group, sex life can be a great source of happiness, pleasure, and meaning in our lives.
However, our sexual life is related to a peaceful state of mind in a great way. It, therefore, means that having mental illness can lead to several sexual health problems. Read more about the relationship between mental health and sexual health, and discover what you can do about it through this post.
Understanding symptoms in both genders.
Regardless of gender, everybody can have difficulty initiating or engaging in sex due to mental problems. However, there are ways in which the effects vary in both men and women.
Men.
Guilt, anxiety, or low self-esteem are among the common causes of sexual health problems in men. While these can be symptoms of depression, these issues can also happen naturally due to age or even simple stress.
Besides, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, men tend to lose interest in engaging in activities when under depression. This means that they might not find sexual intercourse appealing. In addition, the use of antidepressants in men can lead to erectile dysfunction, PE, and even impotence.
Women.
According to various studies, most depression in women are related to hormonal change or imbalance. It is because of this reason that women’s risk of depression increases mainly:
- Before, during, and after menstruation.
- During menopause and perimenopause.
- Balancing work, family, and career.
- After giving birth.
Women can get a dull feeling that can make them feel useless and unworthy of themselves. These can change their general perception of sex and even drastically reduce their sex drive.
Also, as women grow old, sex can become less appealing; coupled with changes along the vaginal wall, sex can sometimes be painful. Lower estrogen levels can also compromise the lubrication of the vagina. These together can cause depression and mental instability to women leading to poor sex life.
Is your mental health affecting your sexual health?
If you are worried that your mental health is affecting your sexuality, check out the common health issues that might affect you and how to go about them below.
- Stress is overwhelming you.
Stress can leave your body feeling very tired of any form of intimacy, including sex. This can be in the form of erectile dysfunction, a low sense of well-being, and loss of libido.
Suppose you are worried that stress can be the cause of your sexual problems. Then it is better to identify its cause and appropriate solution.
Exploring alternative stress management methods like hypnotherapy can help break down negative thought patterns you may have developed contributing to your stress.
You can also resort to taking stress supplements and vitamins to boost your moods and support feel-good hormones in your system to reduce stress. Doing this will give you the strength to control your thoughts, behavior patterns, and reactions.
- You are struggling with feelings of guilt, shame, and self-acceptance.
Self-love, self-acceptance, and general esteem are significant concepts in enhancing our mental health. But when we struggle with accepting ourselves and talking about our needs and wants, we become ashamed of our sexuality too.
Most people feel ashamed of their sexual desires since there is still a conflicting message passed down to generations concerning sex: what it is when to have and who to have it with.
The first step towards overcoming this challenge is to identify a common language that will aid in normalizing talking about sexuality openly, hence improving sex drive.
- Your anxiety is building.
It is normal to have fear, anxiety, or unease regularly. However, when they persist and start affecting how daily life, there can be a course of concern.
Anxiety can reduce your libido or even lessen your desire. Therefore, if you think your sex life is impacted negatively by anxiety, you should share your thoughts, challenges, and feelings with family and friends, seek support groups online or offline for persons undergoing the same situations as you.
If you want to boost your sex drive without affecting your general wellbeing, try to identify and address any concerns you might have about your mental health like stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
Conclusions.
We often consider sex as something that our body should do, forgetting that sex is the creation of the mind, and a lot of it takes place in the brain. Our feelings, thoughts, and response are vital in getting us aroused and maintaining that way.
Having mental problems like depression or anxiety can affect our sexual desire and consequently ruin our mood altogether. Therefore, it is recommended that you identify the course of various mental health complications and address them appropriately to help us enjoy our sexuality to the fullest.
