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we think about our romantic

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encounters with others, we often

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envision uninterrupted passion that lasts

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for hours. This

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is probably thanks to a combination

0:48

of montaged love scenes and movies

0:50

and the 18 plus content that we have consumed

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in our lifetimes. In

0:55

actuality, there can be awkward moments

0:57

and hiccups that occur that can

0:59

be challenging if we don't know

1:01

that it's common and how to

1:03

handle it. With

1:06

that in mind, today we're going to

1:08

talk about erectile dysfunction. So

1:11

whether you're a penis carrier yourself or

1:13

simply like to play with them, this episode

1:15

is for you. Welcome

1:18

back to Savvy Psychologist. I'm your

1:21

host, Dr. Monica Johnson. Every

1:23

week on this show, I'll help

1:26

you face life's challenges with evidence-based

1:28

approaches, a sympathetic ear, and zero

1:30

judgment. Erectile

1:32

dysfunction, or ED, is

1:35

a condition characterized by the inability

1:37

to achieve or maintain an erection.

1:41

This condition can have profound

1:43

effects on a man's self-esteem,

1:45

relationships, and overall quality

1:47

of life. Erectile

1:50

dysfunction is a common condition, affecting

1:53

many men worldwide. Studies

1:55

estimate that about 52% of men experience

1:58

some full-time and

4:00

impact the neurotransmitters involved in

4:02

sexual arousal. Antidepressant

4:05

medication, particularly selective serotonin

4:07

reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs

4:09

can also contribute to

4:11

ED as a side

4:13

effect. The

4:16

relationship between depression and ED

4:18

is bidirectional. ED can

4:20

lead to feelings of depression and

4:22

depression can cause or exacerbate

4:25

ED. The

4:27

next psychological factor is stress. So

4:30

stress from various sources, including

4:33

work, financial issues and personal

4:35

relationships can affect

4:37

sexual performance. Chronic

4:40

stress leads to elevated levels

4:42

of cortisol, a hormone

4:44

that can reduce testosterone levels

4:47

and impair erectile function. Additionally,

4:50

the mental preoccupation with

4:52

stressful thoughts can distract

4:54

from sexual arousal and

4:56

performance. Another

4:59

factor to consider is relationship

5:01

issues. So interpersonal

5:04

relationships play a crucial role

5:06

in sexual health. Conflicts,

5:08

lack of communication and unresolved

5:11

issues with a partner can lead to

5:13

ED. Relationship problems

5:16

can decrease sexual desire and

5:18

intimacy, making it difficult to

5:20

achieve an erection. Conversely,

5:22

ED can also

5:25

strain relationships, creating a feedback

5:27

loop that exacerbates both the

5:29

sexual dysfunction and the

5:32

relational discord. Men

5:34

with low self-esteem or negative body

5:36

image may experience ED due to

5:39

feelings of inadequacy or embarrassment about

5:41

their physical appearance. These

5:44

feelings can create a mental barrier

5:46

to sexual arousal and performance. The

5:50

pressure to meet perceived standards

5:52

of attractiveness and masculinity can

5:54

further aggravate the situation. Individuals

5:58

who have experienced sexual abuse

6:00

or trauma may develop

6:02

ED as a result of

6:04

the psychological scars left by

6:06

these experiences. The

6:08

trauma can lead to a

6:10

range of emotional issues, including

6:12

anxiety, depression, and PTSD, all

6:15

of which impact sexual function. Negative

6:19

associations with sex and intimacy can

6:22

make it difficult to relax and

6:24

become aroused during sexual activity. Hey,

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7:02

Black Music Month, State Farm

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8:04

Addressing the psychological causes of

8:06

erectile dysfunction requires a comprehensive

8:09

approach. That may

8:11

involve therapy, medication, and lifestyle

8:13

changes. I'm going

8:15

to highlight a few effective treatment strategies.

8:19

The first one is psychotherapy. Cognitive

8:23

behavioral therapy, or CBT, is

8:25

particularly effective in treating ED

8:27

related to psychological causes. CBT

8:31

helps individuals identify and change

8:33

negative thought patterns and behaviors

8:35

that contribute to sexual dysfunction.

8:39

Therapy can also address underlying

8:41

issues such as anxiety, depression,

8:44

and relationship problems. In

8:47

the same vein, for men whose ED

8:50

is related to relationship issues, couples

8:52

therapy can be beneficial. This

8:56

form of therapy focuses on

8:58

improving communication, resolving conflicts, and

9:00

enhancing intimacy between partners. A

9:04

supportive and understanding partner can play

9:06

a crucial role in overcoming ED.

9:10

The next strategy is stress management.

9:13

So techniques such as

9:15

mindfulness, meditation, and relaxation

9:17

exercises can help reduce

9:19

anxiety and stress. Learning

9:22

to manage stress effectively can improve

9:25

overall mental health and

9:27

reduce the impact of stress on

9:29

sexual functioning. Keep

9:32

in mind that in some cases, medication

9:34

may be prescribed to

9:37

address underlying psychological conditions.

9:40

So antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications,

9:42

or other psychotropic drugs

9:44

can help manage symptoms

9:47

of depression and anxiety.

9:49

However, it's important to discuss potential side

9:52

effects such as ED with a healthcare

9:54

provider. And

9:56

lastly, I want to talk about lifestyle changes.

10:00

Adopting a healthy lifestyle can improve both

10:02

mental and physical health, thereby

10:04

reducing the risk of ED. Regular

10:08

exercise, a balanced diet, adequate

10:10

sleep, and avoiding substances such

10:12

as tobacco and excessive alcohol

10:15

can all contribute to better

10:17

erectile function. Erectile

10:20

dysfunction is a multifaceted condition that

10:23

can be influenced by a range

10:25

of psychological factors. Anxiety,

10:27

depression, stress, relationship issues, low

10:30

self-esteem, and past sexual trauma

10:32

can all contribute to the

10:34

development and persistence of ED.

10:38

Understanding the psychological basis of

10:40

ED is essential for effective

10:42

treatment and management. By

10:45

addressing these psychological causes

10:47

through therapy, medication, stress management,

10:50

and lifestyle changes, men

10:52

can improve their sexual health and

10:54

overall quality of life. Were

10:57

you surprised by how common ED actually

11:00

is? Please let me know. You

11:03

can contact me via Instagram at

11:05

Kindline Psych or via my email

11:07

at psychologist at quickanddirtytips.com. The

11:11

Savvy Psychologist is a Quick and Dirty Tips

11:13

podcast. It's audio engineered

11:15

by Steve Rickeyburg with script editing

11:17

by Brandon Goetjes. Our

11:19

podcast and advertising operations specialist is

11:21

Morgan Christensen. Our digital operations

11:24

specialist is Holly Hutchings. And

11:26

our marketing and publicity associate is Avina Tomlin.

11:29

Follow Savvy Psychologists on Apple

11:31

Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you

11:33

listen to podcasts. That's

11:36

all for this episode of Savvy Psychologist.

11:39

Thanks for listening, and I'll see you next

11:41

week. From

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the Saturday morning soundtrack that gets the

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the beats at the block parties that bring the

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