Psychological Causes of ImpotenceImpotence, now often called erectile dysfunction, is a condition where a man is unable to gain or maintain an erection to the level of rigidity needed for sexual intercourse. This problem is usually the result of two causes: physical or psychological. While there are plenty of medications available to treat the problem cause by physical elements, there is no magic pill to treat or cure impotency caused by psychological reasons. The first step in addressing the psychological causes are to identify them. It sounds easy to say that the causes of impotency are merely psychological and then expect the sufferer to be able to disregard them and resume normal sexual activity. Because the psychological causes can be difficult to identify, it is often not a matter of simply attributing the problem to psychological reasons and then expecting the patient to have a full and immediate recovery. First there is the issue of determining whether the causes are entirely psychological and then determining what to do about them. In order to determine if the causes are psychological, doctors often use a band-like device while the sufferer is sleeping. The man places the band on his penis before he goes to sleep, and if he gains an erection during the night, the band will break. This tells doctors that the man is able to achieve an erection when not burdened by the stress in the conscious mind. Once this is known, the man can begin to address the psychological factors that produced the problem. One of the first steps in addressing the psychological nature is to adjust expectations. Humans are often surprised by the effects of age. The appearance of gray hair or diminished athletic ability comes as a surprise. More surprising still to most men is the realization that the penis is not exempt from this process of aging. As a man ages it takes longer to gain an erection. While in his twenties a man might have had to merely think about sex in order to gain an erection, in his forties the same man might find he requires more direct stimulation. Without this knowledge the man is surprised by the lack of an immediate erection, begins to feel performance anxiety, and the cyclic effects of psychological impotence have begun. The most important thing in addressing the psychological causes is to realize that it can be treated the same as other forms of stress. Men should treat it like all other stress: lead a healthy lifestyle with proper diet, exercise, and plenty of rest. And when necessary seek the help of a professional.
In the modern day when we have seemingly miracles pills for many ailments some people prefer non-prescription treatments. The case of impotence is no exception. While medications such as Viagra and Levitra have gotten much publicity due to their amazing success rates, there are certain side effects that trouble some users. Viagra can cause headaches and vision problems, and Levitra can cause serious and harmful effects if the user also consumes grapefruit juice. One way to avoid these negative side effects is to pursue non-prescription remedies. Common alternatives to the prescription medications are the many varieties of non-prescription "male enhancement" Supplements. These over-the-counter medications usually consist of herbal combinations, and rather than taking a pill before individually planned episodes of sex, the pills are taken daily to ensure that the right levels of necessary herbs are in the body. Rather than take supplements that have a set combination of herbs, many people prefer to do their own research and find their own herbal, vitamin, or mineral combinations. For centuries many people believed that oysters increased virility. Some modern researchers believe this is due to oysters containing high levels of certain substances like zinc. With this in mind, many today opt to take balanced multi-vitamins rather than spend the large sums of money often required for a constant supply of male enhancement supplements. Yet another alternative to prescription medications involves mechanical devices. This works well for many because the penis is essentially a hydraulic unit. Liquid, blood in the case of the penis, is forced in and trapped causing rigidity. Sometimes when the body's mechanisms that allow blood to enter the penis or the capacity to retain blood in the penis are damaged, external mechanical devices can be used to remedy the problem. One such device is an elastic type ring, often called a cock ring. This ring fits around the base of the penis and scrotum and prevents blood from leaving and allows the user to maintain an erection as long as needed. Another popular device uses an external vacuum pump to help draw blood into the penis. Sometimes the pump and the ring can be used in combination. A word of caution is necessary here. Just because these mechanical devices are non-prescription, does not mean that they can be used in a careless manner. Any device that manipulates the natural blood flow can have harmful effects. Always read and follow the directions when using devices intended to promote erections. Finding effective non-prescription remedies for impotence often requires getting to the root cause of the impotence. And the cause for many is simply stress. Often the reason behind impotence has no physical cause but is instead because the mind is occupied by more immediate concerns and worries. A man sometimes can't achieve erection when his mind is preoccupied with worries about employment, money, or similar day-to-day concerns. Stress relief in the form of hot tubs, massage, counseling, or simply short vacations are often all the non-prescription treatment that is needed.
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