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An erection is considered the ultimate symbol of manhood and masculinity. So when a man experiences erectile dysfunction, it will have significant impacts on his sexual function and overall quality of life in the long run (1).
According to population-based studies, the global prevalence of erectile dysfunction was between 3 and 76.5%, and it’s mostly associated with increasing age.
Studies also revealed that men with erectile dysfunction have 1-6 times more probability of having benign prostatic hyperplasia. They also have 1.68 times more possibility of developing dementia compared to men without any kind of erectile dysfunction (2). This is why experts are continually exploring treatments like hypnosis for erectile dysfunction.
What Are the Causes of Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is caused by both physical and psychological factors. The condition could be a sign of something more severe like Peyronie’s disease, where 30% of all cases have erectile dysfunction (3).
Other conditions are known to cause erectile dysfunction include penile injury or fracture, prostate cancer, atherosclerosis, heart and kidney disease, hypertension, and lower urinary tract symptoms related to benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Erectile dysfunction is also known to be caused by psychological and environmental factors like alcoholism and drug abuse, stress, depression, smoking, and even poor communication with your partner. While treatment varies from person to person, hypnotherapy is considered a good option, especially for men who are suffering from erectile dysfunction due to psychological causes.
What Is Hypnosis for Erectile Dysfunction?
To get a better understanding of how hypnosis works to treat erectile dysfunction, we need to examine the role of the brain in erection first. Essentially, an erection begins when brain signals are sent into the nerves of the penis, causing constriction of the blood vessels.
A lot of men who have erectile dysfunction have feelings of shame or negative experiences about sex, are too stressed about other things, or just simply lack the intimacy with their partner.
Hypnosis for erectile dysfunction works by addressing these issues by getting to the root of the problem and finding ways to eliminate stressors that are affecting a man’s capability to get an erection.
There are five distinct strategies implemented for hypnosis in sex therapy; these include the following:
- Diagnostic tool
- Improving self-confidence
- In association with behavior therapy
- Removal of symptoms
- Help resolve neurotic conflicts (4).
How Can Hypnosis Help Treat Erectile Dysfunction?
Hypnosis doesn’t target the erectile dysfunction itself, but it aims to address the most common psychological factors related to the condition.
For instance, anxiety, stress, and depression are significant causes of erectile dysfunction because they inhibit the brain from feeling sexual excitement and triggering an erection. Hypnosis offers relaxation techniques that help you focus on solving a problem without panic or dwelling on emotions.
Hypnosis also helps with self-esteem issues due to a negative sexual experience, a bad relationship, or simply a feeling of jealousy or doubt towards your partner. Through hypnosis, you will be able to visit those past experiences and insecurities, confront them, and start rebuilding your confidence again.
According to clinical and scientific studies, there’s strong evidence that smoking affects penile erection indirectly through the impairment of endothelium-dependent smooth muscle relaxation (5).
Hypnotherapy can help you deal with smoking and even drug addiction by addressing subconscious thoughts related to cigarettes.
Hypnosis also helps you stay fit and healthy by guiding you in making better lifestyle choices that will eventually increase your libido and give you stronger and longer-lasting erections.
Hypnotherapy also taps in that part of your brain that allows you to get back the pleasure, intimacy, and fun of sexual encounters. A lot of men have problems with erection not because they have other medical conditions but because they simply overthink the need to please their partners. This takes away the pleasure in the act and makes sex more of a duty than an intimate experience.
Final Thoughts
Hypnosis for erectile dysfunction can be done with the help of a therapist and on your own at home. Something as simple as closing your eyes and confronting disturbing thoughts and feelings in your head allows you to free up that burden and feel more relaxed and at ease with yourself.
You can also ask your therapist to help you come up with daily routines that help you get rid of stress, anxiety, and panic.
