Erectile dysfunction occurs when a man lacks the ability to get and/or maintain an erection. This issue is more common than you think, many studies show on average 52% of the male population experience erectile dysfunction, with the problem becoming more prevalent as men age. The impact can be detrimental to man’s confidence and how he shows up day to day and within his relationship.
What causes erectile dysfunction?
- Poor cardiovascular health - high cholesterol and/or high blood pressure
- Being overweight
- Diabetes and high blood sugar
- Certain medication
- Low testosterone
- Lack of sleep
- Lifestyle factors - smoking, drinking excessive alcohol and a lack of exercise
The mind can also have a big impact on sexual performance in ways you might not have considered. This can be due to:
- A negative sexual experience in the past
- Feelings of shame surrounding sex
- Lack of intimacy and connection with your partner
- Poor body confidence
- Work stress
- Overall life un fulfilment
- Generalised anxiety/depression disorder
How can hypnosis help?
Hypnotherapy is a treatment that is best guided by a trained therapist but also can be performed in the comfort of your home. The treatment consists of guided relaxation techniques including meditation that helps the mind to go into a state of trance. The process aims to eliminate distractions from the mind so that there is full attention on the specific thoughts and the task at hand. This process allows the subconscious mind to be activated, which taps into areas of the mind that you might not be consciously aware of.
If a man feels anxious about being intimate with their partner, there is increased stress and worry about sexual performance or maintaining or getting an erection than hypnotherapy helps release the negative thoughts to overcome the issue.
Seth-Deborah Roth, CRNA, CCHr is an award-winning licensed hypnotherapist, who works with her clients on techniques to bring them into a state of relaxation. Her work involves a guided visualisation focused on creating and maintaining an erection.
Hypnotherapy may also work on areas that are not related to erectile dysfunction itself. Hypnotherapy might not focus on getting the erection, but instead on the psychological issues that are preventing it. For example, Roth says: “Sometimes, emotionally damaging past experiences can be released with hypnotherapy. Regressing to the experience and releasing it is a benefit of the session”. She continues ‘The brain does not know the difference between reality and imagination, so in hypnosis we are able to imagine things differently.”
Regardless of whether your erectile dysfunction is caused by physical or phycological factors, hypnotherapy can be beneficial and used in conjunction with any treatment. If you are interested in Hypnotherapy Sydney
What treatments are available for Erectile Dysfunction?
It’s important to speak to a health care provider to understand the root cause of your erectile dysfunction. Some common therapies that are non-invasive and are often tried first for erectile dysfunction are:
- Oral drugs or pills known as phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors are most often prescribed including Viagra (sidenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), Levitra (vardenafil) and Stendra (avanafil).
- Penile injections (ICI, intracavernosal Alprostadil)
For oral drugs typically for best results men should take it within an hour or two before bed. PDE5 inhibitors improve in helping blood flow through the penis. It’s important to use these drugs as directed by health care provider.
