How to Treat Erectile Dysfunction With Behavior Therapy
Overview
Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects 15 to 30 million American men, and often has a physical cause. But many men with erection problems are suffering from psychological factors. Stress, anxiety, guilt, depression, low self-esteem and fear of sexual failure may account for 10 to 20 percent of ED cases, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Medications are not always the answer. Sometimes you can end the problem with certain lifestyle changes with help from a professional counselor.
Step 1
Visit a counselor or therapist to discuss the behavioral factors that may be associated with sexual problems. Check your local directories or find a therapist online through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (see Resources).
Step 2
Examine the new techniques you are learning from your therapist about intimacy and stimulation. Practice these methods with your partner.
Step 3
Talk openly about your sexual concerns. The therapist has treated many men and women who are worried about arousal, so don't be afraid. Bring up your background to help focus on what might be the cause.
Step 4
Read books or other material, and watch DVDs that have educational information about sex and problems with sexual intimacy. Your therapist may provide you with information. There is plenty information online (see Resources), at the local library or in bookstores.
Step 5
Avoid alcohol, a major cause for impotence. Chronic alcoholism can lead to damage to the nerves and the body's tissues, resulting in ED.
Step 6
Stay away from drugs, which may inhibit your sexual abilities if abused. Long-term marijuana use, for example, affects testosterone production and other hormones that can have result in ED, according to Columbia University's Q&A Internet Service. Some prescription drugs may cause temporary erection problems. Consult with your doctor if you suspect this is causing a problem.
Step 7
Adopt a healthy lifestyle. Control your weight and stop smoking, factors that lead to heart disease and vascular problems, which in turn can cause erection problems. Exercise daily to revitalize yourself and feel happy about a better love life.
Tips and Warnings
- Internet-based therapy may work for men who are too embarrassed to seek help in person, according to a study published in the June 24, 2008 issue of the "International Journal of Impotence Research." The 12 men who completed an online psychological intervention reported improved erections, according to the researchers at Deakin University, Monash University and Cabrini Hospital in Melbourne, Australia.
- Don't just focus on one of these methods. Try each or all of them until you have found your way back to a normal sex life.
About this Author
Jerry Shaw has written on a variety of topics for online sites, magazines, Gannett newspapers and American Media Inc. publications. He has also authored books and is co-writer of “Solomon’s Key,” a bookazine that chronicles ancient secrets and conspiracies surrounding Washington, D.C. He lives in Florida.
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