Anxiety

Anxiety can impact a man’s quality of life in many ways. Often times someone experiencing anxiety will report distress due to constant worrying and difficulty controlling these worries. Men with anxiety may experience symptoms of restlessness, fatigue, concentration difficulties, irritability, muscle tension, and disturbed sleep. Other conditions that may be associated with stress (e.g. irritable bowel syndrome, headaches) may accompany symptoms of anxiety. Each of these symptoms alone may be enough to negatively influence a man’s sexual function.

Men who experience symptoms of anxiety may also experience premature ejaculation and low sexual desire. In addition men may experience “performance anxiety” which may impact their erectile function.

The relationship between mood and sexuality in men has been found to be extremely complex. In some men, anxiety can actually increase sexual interest because of the calming effect of sexual release, and the possible “excitation transfer” effect of anxious arousal.