Ashima Sharda Mahindra • 03 Apr 2025
What Is Sexual Anxiety and How Does It Affect Your Intimate Life?
Sexual anxiety can affect the way you may feel aroused, desired, or even how you orgasM
Those with anxiety know how it affects every aspect of life—from mental to physical health. Apart from other aspects, anxiety also affects your sex life, increasing feelings of fear and uneasiness and causing trouble connecting with your partner and experiencing pleasure.
According to experts, while it is normal to have some stress when it comes to having sex, extremely negative feelings not only impact your health but also your relationship with your partner.
What is sexual anxiety?
According to experts, sexual anxiety is a short-term reaction to stress or a long-term disorder that causes feelings of fear, restlessness, tension, or uneasiness while you are intimate with your partner.
Statistics say while it is normal to feel some anxiety when it comes to sex, more than 25 per cent of men and 16 per cent of women experience sexual anxiety—developing anxious feelings about one specific aspect of sex or several things about it.
Sexual anxiety can affect the way you may feel aroused, desired, or even how you orgasm.
Signs and symptoms of sexual anxiety
A few signs and symptoms of sexual anxiety that your body may go through include:
- A pounding or rapid heartbeat
- An inability to have or maintain an erection
- Feeling dizzy
- Painful sex
- Breathlessness
- Sweating
- Trouble getting aroused
What causes sexual anxiety?
According to doctors, while it is not entirely clear what causes anxiety while being intimate, there are many factors like genetics and stress that increase your risk.
Many men and women have negative feelings and thoughts, which may end up with sexual anxiety. Also, the fear of not being able to perform sexually to satisfy your partner can make a person conscious. Some people can develop sexual anxiety as a result of previous sexual experiences. Studies also say watching pornography leads to many kinds of unrealistic expectations about sex.
How does it affect your intimate life?
A few anxieties in your bedroom can affect your life, including:
Low confidence
Those who have sexual anxiety suffer from low self-confidence—mostly about their bodies and how they look.
Not able to orgasm
Sexual anxiety significantly affects your ability to reach orgasm. According to studies, it can limit sexual arousal and how often you orgasm. Anxiety and other mental health conditions might also lead to erectile dysfunction.
Avoiding intimacy
Many times when sexual anxiety happens, you may feel disconnected from your partner.
Ways to cope
While experts say feelings of anxiety are not constant and may go away on their own, it can also become overwhelming in some cases and negatively affect a relationship. To overcome that, you need to:
Communicate
Make sure to always keep communication on with your partner
Practice mindfulness
Focus on the moment, including your and your partner's desires, needs, and wants.
Reframe negative thoughts
Negative thoughts always amplify anxious feelings. Try replacing those with positive imagery.
Try relaxation techniques
Practice deep breathing, muscle relaxation, and yoga.
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