Stress and Sex Life

When we first started hearing about stress studies, it seemed that all stress was bad for us. But now we know that for most people, low stress levels that they can cope with not only may not be harmful, they may actually have some beneficial effects.

The problems arise when people are under high stress. Serious problems at work; difficulties in a marriage, relationship, or with children; financial worries; even anxiety over sexual function-all of these can have very negative effects on physical and mental health.

When people are heavily stressed, the adrenal glands produce the hormone ephinephrine, which enters the blood and causes blood vessels to tighten up, restricting blood flow. Naturally, this process will also affect the blood vessels to the penis and may cause complications for a man trying to get an erection.

If this happens occasionally, It may not be a problem. But when a man is under constant stress for a long period of time, it will not only have a bad effect on his sex life, it can also lead to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disorders.

What to do? The obvious answer is: Reduce stress.

There are many activities that can help to reduce stress. Unfortunately, most people choose the wrong ones, settling for temporary relief and long-term trouble. They get drunk, smoke, and overeat, causing further harm to their bodies and ending up in the same, or worse, condition when the effects of these "remedies" wear off.

Do anything else that helps you, in a natural way, to calm down, relax, and release pent-up tension. For some people, therapy is very helpful. Sometimes there are personal problems or situations that can seem hopeless, and the intervention of an objective professional provides a way to work them out successfully. In other situations, the answer may be just sitting down and openly discussing whatever is bothering you, either with your partner or with someone else who can help you work things out. If you can do this in a calm, nonthreatening way, the result can be effective problemresolution and stress reduction.