How does stress affect sexual desire? & bull; hello healthy

The stress you feel can come from various pressures that occur in everyday life. Personal, family, or problems that occur at work can trigger uncontrollable stress. Generally, this condition makes you not excited until your sex drive decreases. How can stress affect your sexual desire?

Stress triggers a decrease in sexual desire

When you are stressed, your body will experience several changes as a physiological response. This response occurs by releasing hormones that prepare you to defend yourself.

The hormones that are released include cortisol and epinephrine. If your body does not respond to a physiological response when you are under stress, you can experience what is known as chronic stress. This can affect your physical health, including a decrease in libido in the body.

When your libido drops, you will lose the desire to have sex and this can affect your sexual relationship with your partner. Therefore, stress affecting sexual desire is not a good sign.

1. The effect of stress on male sexual arousal

In men, the effect of stress on sex can make it difficult to get an erection, even fail. This is because all your sexual activity will be regulated by the nervous system which is also affected by stress hormones.

When stressed, blood vessels do not enlarge and the sphincter muscles (muscles around the penis) fail to constrict. Both of these lead to erectile failure.

In addition, when stressed, several hormones in men are also disturbed. One of them, endorphins, blocks the release of the LHRH hormone. The decrease in the LHRH hormone triggers a decrease in the LH hormone, a hormone that is important for the production of the hormone testosterone.

Meanwhile, the FSH hormone, which stimulates sperm formation, also decreases. Plus, the hormone cortisol, a hormone that occurs when you are stressed, makes the testicles less responsive to LH.

Because sexual activity is automatically controlled by the nervous system, conditions in which stress automatically affects sexual desire are easier to occur, but more difficult to overcome.

The only thing that is not affected by this reaction is the mind, therefore guarding your mind is one way to restore the conditions that occur due to this stress.

2. The effect of stress on female sexual arousal

In women, aphrodisiacs, or substances that increase sexual desire, are also regulated in the brain. In addition, women not only perceive sex as a physical activity, but also involve emotions or feelings.

That way, when you are stressed, you will tend to view sex as a negative activity and without you knowing it, you form a habit that prevents you from enjoying sex.

As is the case with men, hormones in women are also affected when under stress. Endorphins block LHRH and cause LH levels to decrease. In women, LH triggers ovulation.

In addition, the hormone cortisol blocks the release of LH levels, so FSH, prolactin, estrogen, and progesterone are also disrupted. The effect, women experience irregular menstrual cycles and fertilization and implantation of eggs into the uterine wall is more difficult.

Being busy at work can increase stress

One of the stressors that are currently being felt by manymillenials is the stress you get from being too busy at work. Work piling up and relationships with friends at work that are not good can increase the stress you feel.

Stress affects sexual desire because when you are busy at work, your brain is also busy thinking. This makes it difficult for you to relax and unwind to the point that there is no room to think about sex.

The piling and endless work keeps you busy doing it and you may not be able to find the time to have sex with your partner.

This condition will be worse if sex is just an activity that you put on your list of activities that you must complete without being able to really enjoy it. That way, it's possible that stress affecting your sexual desire can keep you having sex without actually feeling the pleasure.

4 ways to deal with stress and restore sexual desire

If stress has affected your sexual desires, it doesn't hurt to do some easy ways to deal with stress and restore sexual desire for your health and a better relationship with your partner.

1. Communicate with your partner

Communication almost never fails to be a solution to various human relationship problems. Likewise, problems that may arise between you and your partner due to stress affecting your sexual desire.

If allowed to drag on, this sex problem can make you feel lonely and potentially cause more problems with your partner. There is nothing wrong with being open with your partner by telling him about the stress you are feeling.

By sharing it, your partner will better understand your condition. In addition, he or she may be helping you find solutions to the problem that is causing you stress. This may make you much calmer and more relaxed so that your sex drive can return.

2. Exercise

People who are diligent in exercising certainly have better stamina and sex lives. This is supported by three reasons. First, exercise can stimulate the release of hormones and trigger physiological reactions that can increase libido.

Second, awareness to increase stamina and quality of body health through exercise shows that you realize that healthy living is a good lifestyle, so that your sexual activities should also be in good condition.

The third reason, exercising regularly can also stimulate the growth of blood vessels and increase blood flow which naturally also increases blood flow to the genital area.

3. Meditation

Meditation can be used as a method to relieve stress. That way, stress affects sexual desire can also be overcome. Besides being able to reduce stress, meditation can also be used to reduce the pressure you feel, which may also be a reason for stress.

Even if it's only done for a short time, if you do it every day, meditation can improve your mindset so you can relax more. In addition, your libido will increase. Apart from meditation, activities such as yoga, laughter or activities that relax muscles also have the same effect.

4. Get enough sleep

Sleep plays an important role in your overall health. It also has a role in increasing sex drive. Sleep can reduce stress and keep your immune system in good shape.

Stress affects sexual hormones can be reduced by getting enough sleep. The ideal sleep time is 8 hours at night. Try to do it every day to increase energy and libido in your body.