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  • Men’s Sexual Dysfunction

    Are you feeling anxious, embarrassed, or uncomfortable about being sexually intimate with your partner?

    Do you find it challenging to talk to anyone about this issue?

    Sexuality is an integral part of a masculine’s life and a significant factor in his relationship. Our culture and society provide norms of masculinity that teach men that demonstrating emotion is a sign of weakness, and that they should be competent and strong and avoid showing vulnerability. As a result, men are inclined to downplay their mental health symptoms, suppress their emotions, and not recognize what they are experiencing, resulting in not seeking psychotherapy.

    Men are less likely than women to be diagnosed with any of the most common mental health disorders, and those who have received a diagnosis are less likely to seek treatment. Men do not receive the mental health services they need for treatment, resulting in tragic consequences and placing them at higher risk for suicide. The World Health Organization (2018) reports that men commit elevated rates of suicide three times more often than women.

    Whether you are single or in a relationship, as a masculine, you may feel the sting of our culture and society’s messages through films, advertisements, and social media that sex should come naturally, happen spontaneously, be in control, and be pleasurable. When problems and issues arise, you may feel incompetent, inadequate, or even question your self-worth as a man

    As a sex therapist, I implement empirical research studies and interventions with specific techniques for men experiencing these concerns and provide compassion, hope, and healing and improve the satisfaction in your intimacy and sexuality.

    Men’s Mental Health Symptoms

    • Edginess & Restlessness
    • Aggressive Behavior
    • High-Risk Activities
    • Alcohol & Substance Use
    • Chronic Headaches or Digestive Issues
    • Difficulty Concentrating & Focusing
    • Appetite and Weight Changes
    • Fatigue & Tiredness
    • Obsessive Overthinking

    Men’s Mental Health Disorders

    • Depression
    • Social Anxiety
    • Working Obsessively
    • Sleep Disturbances
    • Feelings of Sadness
    • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
    • Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
    • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
    • Alcohol & Substance Use Disorder
    • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

    Men’s Sexual Dysfunction

    • Erectile Dysfunction – difficulty achieving or/and maintaining an erection
    • Premature Ejaculation – achieving an orgasm quickly
    • Delayed/Inhibited Ejaculation- achieving orgasm slowly or not at all
    • Low Desire – lack of interest in sexuality and intimacy

    Symptoms

    • Intense interest in sexual desire
    • Inability to have an erection
    • Ability to achieve orgasm only during masturbation
    • Lack of sexual fantasies
    • Failure to maintain an erection for sexual penetration
    • Inability to reach an orgasm
    • Ability to achieve orgasm only after a lengthy stimulation
    • Ability to achieve orgasm only during oral sex

    Physical Factors

    • Stress
    • Alcoholism
    • Depression
    • Fatigue
    • Obesity
    • Smoking
    • Diabetes
    • Prostate Cancer
    • High blood pressure
    • High cholesterol
    • Cardiovascular disease
    • Hyperthyroidism
    • Recreational drugs
    • Relationship problems
    • Testosterone deficiency
    • Hypoactive Sexual Disorder
    • Medications – SSRIs, blood pressure, opioid analgesics

    Men face the traditional masculine stereotype of the ‘strong male’ and cultural stigma as their main challenges, prohibiting them from obtaining help for their mental health struggles. Additionally, the demands of career and work, financial pressures, and medical conditions negatively impact their mental health.

    Men are expected not to seek treatment due to their symptoms showing up in less obvious ways, making these common mental health issues make men feel isolated and alone with no support system in place. These challenges may manifest as anger, irritability, aggression, or alcohol and substance use as a maladaptive coping mechanism to manage symptoms.

    How can Sex Therapy help?

    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the gold standard for sexual dysfunction for achieving treatment objectives and goals. I provide an inclusive, compassionate, supportive, non-judgmental, safe space and precise psychoeducation about female sexuality. I actively listen to your needs, wants, and desires about your beliefs, values, relationships, and goals.

    I develop a comprehensive individualized treatment plan and collaborate with primary care physicians and urologists. We identify distortions in cognitive thinking, provide evidence for and against these thoughts, and observe your emotions and where you are feeling them in your body. We work together to change difficult, complicated feelings, thoughts, and maladaptive behaviors that interfere with experiencing healthy pleasure in your sexuality.

    Mindfulness and meditation are incredible tools for learning to stay in the present and present moment by effectively increasing your relaxation ability and decreasing anxiety and fears about Desire, sexuality, and performance issues. Consequently, you may question your love for your partner and your ability to maintain the relationship.

    Advocating for men’s mental health and supporting men in connecting with themselves and establishing insight, growth, and healing by providing exploration to discover their authentic selves, address underlying childhood trauma, depression, and anxiety, and build genuine and trusting relationships with others. An individualized method supports men to understand themselves better and to establish a solid toolkit of healthy adaptive coping strategies for emotional and psychological issues and stress.

    As a result, men learn how to navigate life’s predictable challenges while staying authentic and connected with themselves and others.

     

    References

    American Urological Association. Erectile Dysfunction.

    American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

    American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.

    Journal of the American Medical Association. Male Sexual Dysfunction.

    Lue, T.f., Chapter 39. (2013). Male Sexual Dysfunction. In: McAninch JW, Lue TF. eds. Smith and Tanagho’s General Urology, 18e. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

    Merck Manual Consumer Version. Overview of Sexual Dysfunction in Men.

    WebMD Medical Reference: “Your Guide to Sexual Health.”