Dealing with Sexual Anxiety: Strategies for a Fulfilling Intimacy

HealthEvokeJune 2, 2024

4 4 minutes read

Every aspect of your life, including your sexual life, may be impacted by anxiety. Anxiety related to sexual performance, which includes apprehension and unease, may make it difficult to connect and enjoy yourself with your partner.

While some tension is perfectly acceptable when it comes to sex, excessively negative emotions may be detrimental to a relationship. Continue reading to find out more about sexual anxiety, including its symptoms and coping mechanisms.

What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety may be a chronic (long-term) condition or a transient response to stress. Anxiety may manifest as sensations of dread, restlessness, tension, and unease. Your behaviour and thought processes may be affected by anxiety. Long-lasting anxious thoughts might make you avoid activities you normally like.

What Is Sexual Anxiety?

It’s very acceptable to have some anxiousness before having sex. Sexual anxiety affects up to 16% of persons who identify as women and 25% of those who identify as males.You may have anxiety related to one or more aspects of sexual activity.

Any aspect of the sexual response cycle, such as arousal, desire, and orgasm, may be impacted by sexual anxiety. For example, you could shy away from certain forms of sexual behaviour or worry about being discovered having sex.

Sexual Anxiety Symptoms

Anxiety related to sex may manifest physically as symptoms such as:

A pounding or rapid heartbeat
An inability to have or maintain an erection
Feeling dizzy
Painful sex
Shortness of breath
Sweating
Trouble getting aroused

Causes

Although the exact origin of anxiety is unknown, stress and heredity might raise your risk. Sexual anxiety may be brought on by negative emotions and ideas. You can feel self-conscious and have a poor body image, fearing that you won’t be able to perform sexually. Because of their past sexual experiences, some individuals may have sexual anxiety.

According to a review that was released, watching porn might make people have irrational expectations about sex. Researchers found that if people’s preconceptions are not met by their real-life experiences, they may develop sexual dysfunction.

How Anxiety Can Affect Your Sex Life

Getting the treatment you need starts with realizing how your mood impacts other aspects of your life. These are some indicators that your sexual life may be impacted by anxiety.

Decreased Confidence

Individuals who have sexual anxiety may also lack confidence in themselves and feel self-conscious about their appearance. You might get distracted from sexual activities and find it difficult to feel aroused if you are preoccupied with your appearance.

Your emotions of sexual incompetence may cause you to lose confidence. Additionally, worrying about your performance could keep you from engaging in sexual activity.

Difficulties With Orgasm

Your capacity to have an orgasm may be impacted by sexual anxiety. According to a research, anxiety might reduce your level of sexual desire and frequency of orgasms.

In addition to other mental health issues, anxiety may also lead to erectile dysfunction.These bodily changes might affect your perception of sexual stimulation and prevent climax, in addition to nervous thoughts.

Intimacy Avoidance

Sometimes your sexual anxiety prevents you from developing a deep relationship with your spouse. For example, anxiety from a past attack or trauma might make you scared of sex or make you distrustful of your partner. Speaking with a mental health professional might make you feel more at ease engaging in sexual activities.

Low Libido

Feelings of anxiety may reduce your desire for sex. It’s possible for feelings of stress to dominate your thoughts and keep you from feeling ready for sex.

Some drugs used to alleviate anxiety may also make you feel less lustful. The major adverse effects of antidepressants are decreased sexual drive and difficulty having sex.

Reduced Partner Communication

When it comes to sexual relations, communication is vital. According to a research published in, couples who do not discuss their non-sexual and sexual difficulties may be more likely than those who do to have sex-related problems.

You can be reluctant to talk about your needs, desires, and comfort levels in relation to sex for several reasons. Any past experiences you have with sexual problems might exacerbate your anxiety. Therefore, it might be difficult to discuss sex with a partner because of those sentiments.

Coping With Sexual Anxiety

Sometimes, sexual anxiousness goes away on its own. In some situations, anxious emotions may become overpowering and harm a relationship. It’s important to deal with any sex-related anxiety you may have and get rid of any misconceptions about your ability to please your spouse.

Here are some ways to cope with sexual anxiety:

Communicate: Remember that one method to perhaps improve your sex life is to be honest. Discussing any suppressed emotions may be relieving. You might speak with your spouse about it or get advice from a mental health professional.
Practice mindfulness: Pay attention to your needs, wants, and those of your spouse in the present. This self-awareness might help you avoid being sidetracked from sexual activity by unfavourable thoughts.
Reframe negative thoughts: Anxious sensations may be intensified by negative ideas, such as “I will not satisfy my partner.” Try substituting constructive self-talk and images for those negative ideas.
Try relaxation techniques: These consist of yoga, deep breathing, and muscular relaxation. Some of those methods, like deep breathing, are something you may do while having various sex activities.

Supporting Someone With Sexual Anxiety

If your spouse has sexual anxiety, you may support them. It’s important to take things slowly and to be open to conversation. Without putting too much pressure on them to act immediately, encourage your spouse to assist in boosting their confidence.

Consider concentrating on sexual practices that you both find enjoyable and at ease. Instead of focusing on achieving an orgasm, focus on developing a close relationship with your spouse. Increasing their sense of comfort and trust may boost their confidence and lessen their sexual anxieties.

Conclusion

Anxiety is characterized by emotions of dread or anxiety that manifest as thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Your sex life is one of the many aspects of your life that may be impacted by anxious thoughts.

You feel insecure about your body during sex or that you can’t express your wants to your partner. Working through your sexual anxiety might be facilitated by speaking with a mental health professional.