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Psychological ED - is your mind getting in the way of sex?

Erectile dysfunction caused by a psychological or mental factor is not quite as common as physical ED but still impacts a lot of men’s sex lives.

Psychological ED means you’re physically capable of having an erection, but something mental is keeping it from happening.

This could be your mental health, worries about performing sexually or issues with your relationship. Below, we’ll share the most common mental causes of impotence and what you can do to turn things around.

Medically reviewed by

Daniel Atkinson, GP Clinical Lead

Table of contents

Medically reviewed by

Dr Daniel Atkinson

GP Clinical Lead

on August 02, 2022.

Meet Daniel

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How do I know if my ED is psychological?

The best way is to see your doctor. They’ll be able to run some tests to make sure everything is working as it should physically. In 80% of cases, erectile dysfunction has a physical cause.

But if you’ve already been to the doctor and there’s no physical reason for why you can’t get an erection, you’re most likely dealing with psychological ED.

What causes psychological erectile dysfunction?

The most common causes of psychological ED are things that affect your mood and emotions, such as:

Stress
Performance anxiety
Relationship issues
Low self esteem
Tiredness
Reduced libido
Previous sexual trauma

An erection is both a physical and mental response — while your body supplies blood to your penis, your mind is in charge of arousal. Negative thoughts, fears and worries can all interfere with the brain signals that trigger an erectile response.

Psychological and physical ED can also happen in tandem, so you should always talk to your doctor first to rule out physical causes.

Psychologically induced ED is common and has many different treatment options. You’re not alone, and help is available.

Stress, anxiety and ED

Stress can cause ED. It can be difficult for your body (and mind) to be in the mood for sex if you’re worried about work or another issue.

Anxiety and erectile dysfunction are also linked: being anxious can make it more difficult to get an erection, and erection difficulties can make you more anxious. The good news is that treating the underlying cause of the stress and anxiety in your life should also treat your ED.

What is performance anxiety?

Performance anxiety happens when worries about your ability to do something are so powerful, they impact your life.

When it comes to sex, performance anxiety usually means worrying about your body (including penis size) or about your ability to please a partner. So try talking to your partner about your worries. By addressing the problem head on, you’ll feel less anxious about performing.

Depression and erectile dysfunction

Depression is a common cause of psychological ED. Often, people who are depressed feel like they’re always too tired, lose interest in things they used to enjoy and notice a dip in their sex drive. Depression can keep you from being “in the moment,” impact your self-esteem or body image and add stress to your relationship. All of these things can contribute to ED.

If the depression is acute (a response to something specific that happened), it’s possible that your erectile dysfunction will resolve itself once time has passed. If the depression is chronic, however, you could keep experiencing ED indefinitely if you don’t seek treatment. In either case, it’s important to get help for your depression. That, in turn, can help treat erectile dysfunction.

Can antidepressants cause erectile dysfunction?

Unfortunately, some antidepressants can cause erectile dysfunction or other sexual issues, like making it really difficult to orgasm or burning your sex drive to the ground. These are not side effects you should live with, and you should talk to your prescriber if you experience any of them. They might be temporary and go away on their own as your body gets used to the medication. But if they don’t, it might be time to adjust the dose or find a different antidepressant.

ED and relationship problems

When you’re having problems in your relationship, this can lead to problems in the bedroom. Which can then make the relationship even worse. It’s a vicious cycle.

If you think your erectile dysfunction is the result of a problem in your relationship, it’s important to figure out why.

Talk to your partner about what’s bothering you. It’s possible that reassurance from them will help you feel more ‘in the moment’ during sex or remove any pressure you’re feeling about needing an erection to please your partner. On the flip side, couples therapy is an option if you think relationship problems are the cause of your ED but you want some help with opening up communication between you and your partner.

Can too much pornography cause ED?

Can porn cause erectile dysfunction? Possibly. Porn-induced erectile dysfunction (PIED) is a recently identified condition but it’s not fully understood how it works. Theories about porn-induced ED focus on how porn can change how a person perceives sex in real life, from overexposure to “unrealistic” bodies and reactions to porn’s impact on dopamine levels.

If you watch a lot of pornography and experience erectile dysfunction, or if you find yourself often choosing porn over sex with your partner, it might be time to take a break.

Does masturbation cause ED?

“Masturbation-induced ED” is a bit of a misnomer. The physical act of masturbation can’t directly cause erectile dysfunction, although you’ll experience a refractory period after orgasming during which you won’t be able to get another erection. However, erectile dysfunction and masturbation do have some links. For example, watching a lot of pornography might change the way you think about sex with your partner and make it more difficult to become physically aroused.

It’s also possible to get used to masturbating in a specific way, whether by using a specific type of visual stimulation or a technique (like a really firm grip) that doesn’t translate well to partnered sex.

Some men choose to masturbate a few hours before sex to help them last longer, but this could ultimately make it more difficult to orgasm depending on how long their refractory period is.

Can too much sex cause erectile dysfunction?

Not directly. In fact, more sex is likely to improve your confidence and reduce the risk of performance anxiety. After sex, however, you’ll experience something called a “refractory period,” which is a short time during which it’s difficult or impossible to become physically aroused. This is perfectly normal and isn’t the same thing as erectile dysfunction.

Is ED in younger men always psychological?

You can have physical or psychological erectile dysfunction no matter what age you are, but there are often mental reasons for erectile dysfunction before age 30. That’s because many of the physical causes of ED (like cardiovascular issues or diabetes) are more common in older men. At the same time, psychological issues like performance anxiety in a new relationship can be more likely to cause erectile dysfunction in your 20s.

If you’re in your 20s or 30s and experiencing erectile dysfunction, it’s important to see your doctor to rule out physical causes, because ED can be a sign of undetected cardiovascular disease. If you’ve gotten checked out and are physically healthy but still having trouble getting an erection, you probably have psychological ED. Below, we’ll explore how you can treat it.

Treatment for psychological ED

There are many different ways to overcome psychological erectile dysfunction — and not all of them involve going to the doctor. Talk therapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), is well-known for helping men deal with ED. Couples therapy or sex therapy with your partner can be more productive than handling the issue alone, so don’t be afraid to communicate with your partner.
There are also a few DIY tricks to cure erectile dysfunction and, of course, ED medication might be an option. You should also speak with your GP and make sure you’ve ruled out any possible physical causes for your ED.

Talk therapy for erectile dysfunction

Talk therapy is a general type of psychotherapy where you talk through your issues with a licensed professional. Together with your therapist, you’ll learn how things in your life (like stress or negative thoughts) can contribute to ED, and practice management techniques. There are different types of talk therapy — a popular one is cognitive behavioral therapy, which places extra attention on how your thoughts impact your life.

CBT for erectile dysfunction

Your thoughts, feelings and physical experiences are all connected. CBT, or cognitive behavioural therapy, is a talking therapy that helps you overcome problems by changing the way you think.

During a CBT session, you’ll learn how things like negative thinking, unrealistic expectations around sex or feeling a pressure to perform can cause physical reactions like ED. Working with a licensed therapist, you’ll get access to coping strategies and communication skills that you can use to regain control over your thoughts and body.

Do I need couples therapy for ED?

Erectile dysfunction shouldn’t be something you feel you have to solve by yourself, and it can be really helpful to involve your partner in your treatment. (In fact, studies show that stress-related ED goes away 50-70% of the time when the partner is involved in therapy. ) Couples experiencing erectile dysfunction can benefit from either talk therapy or sex therapy.

A couples talk therapy appointment would address the thoughts of both partners, and help you learn how to communicate your needs and fears. Because psychological ED is often caused by performance anxiety, knowing you have the support and understanding of your partner can be a really helpful tool in overcoming ED.

Unlike a talk therapist who can help address underlying issues of depression, anxiety and other emotional issues that contribute to erectile dysfunction, a sex therapist will approach the issue even more directly. You’ll work on your sexual communication skills as well as learn exercises you can do with your partner at home, which will build sexual intimacy while taking away the pressure to perform (and maintain an erection).

Self help for erectile dysfunction

Before you start looking for a therapist, it’s worth trying a few things at home to cure ED.

One of the biggest causes of psychological erectile dysfunction is stress, so of course it’s best to try and remove sources of stress from your life. But that’s much easier said than done. If the stress is coming from something outside of your control, like a big project at work, focus on what you can control — like getting enough sleep, exercising and eating healthy.

Take this same approach with causes like performance anxiety, dependence on pornography, relationship issues or fatigue. First, focus on what you can control. Talk to your partner. Limit the amount of pornography you watch, or try something new like reading erotica. With a little effort and a lot of communication, you might find your psychological ED goes away on its own.

Can medication help with psychological ED?

ED pills like Viagra can be great at breaking the cycle of psychological ED. Studies have shown that men with psychological ED have a strong response to placebo treatment.

ED medication won’t necessarily help you address the root cause of psychological erectile dysfunction, though. If it’s the result of depression, you’d be better off talking to a therapist or asking your doctor about antidepressant medication. And if you’re experiencing ED because of changes in your libido or inability to feel “in the moment” due to stress, Viagra won’t be as beneficial as addressing the sources of stress in your life.

Erectile dysfunction: how we can help

“ED affects most men at some point in their lives,” says Dr. Daniel Atkinson, the Clinical Lead at EveAdam UK. “It’s really common in men who are in a new relationship and are anxious about sexual performance. Sexual arousal starts in the mind: when men feel turned on, this usually leads to an erection — but all sorts of psychological issues can affect how this works.”
At Treated, we offer many different types of medical treatment for erectile dysfunction. Viagra and other ED pills aren’t usually prescribed for psychological erectile dysfunction as they address physical ED, but they might be the confidence boost you need if you feel like you’ve exhausted other options.
“Feelings of worry or low mood are really common for everyone,” says Dr. Daniel. “Addressing these psychological issues will usually sort out any ED problems and no ED medication will be required, but medications like Viagra and Cialis can be helpful in the short term.”
Talk to an expert and find out if ED medication is right for you.

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Talk to an expert and find out if ED medication is right for you.

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Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.