Image by shutterstock
Is Performance Anxiety Troubling You In Your Later Life?
April 1, 2020 | Health | By Lisa Smith
Performance anxiety is an overwhelming feeling of nervousness about sexual performance that obscures pleasure and leads to sexual dysfunction before and during sex. It’s a very important issue affecting older couples. It is common for males of all ages to experience performance anxiety at some point in their lives but, it is more particular with men as they move into their 50s. Performance anxiety can result in premature ejaculation and even erectile dysfunction.
Women can also experience performance anxiety, especially when they are in a new relationship and they feel insecure about their bodies. They end up avoiding sex or being naked with their partners.
What Can Cause Performance Anxiety In Senior Adults?
Sex isn’t just a physical act or response; your emotions have a big part to play in it. When your mind is distracted or too stressed out to focus on stress it affects your performance.
Fear of worries that can cause performance anxiety include
- Fear or thoughts of you not performing well and giving your partner maximum satisfaction
- Poor body image, including concerns about your weight
- Relationship issues such as lack of emotional connection or dissatisfaction with your relationship
- Worrying that your penis isn’t big enough or won’t measure up
- Concern about ejaculating too early or taking too long to reach orgasm
- Anxiety about not being able to enjoy your sexual experiences or have an orgasm
- Other stress sources such as difficulties regarding work, relationships, family or non-sexual aspects of life
All these listed fears and worries lead to your body releasing stress hormones like epinephrine or adrenaline and non-epinephrine, reducing blood flow to parts of your body such as the penis and also making it more difficult to have a relaxed mind and enjoy sexual activities.
How Can You Combat Performance Anxiety?
Performance anxiety can be combated by first identifying and solving the factor or factors that caused the anxiety in the first place.
Performance anxiety can sometimes solve itself as you become more familiar and comfortable with having sex with your partner. Other ways to combat performance anxiety include,
1. Physically: These include lifestyle changes aimed at reducing your total level of stress and negative thinking thereby increasing your sexual performance. Activities like exercising and also getting rid of stress factors at work and in your life.
2. Emotionally: Since the mind plays a major role in causing anxiety it’s only appropriate to combat it mentally and emotionally. Counseling and sex therapy can help in combating performance anxiety. You can also learn more about sex and your sexual partner, making you more confident and reducing anxiety. Try to avoid rushing sex too, this helps build more confidence and give time to please your partner.
3. Medically: There are medications available for combating performance anxiety caused my physical or medical abnormalities. Be sure to see a doctor and get prescriptions before using any medication for performance anxiety.
If you are experiencing performance anxiety at your later age, you have nothing to be worried about. With the cooperation of your partner, you both can come together and tackle this issue and continue to live a long, healthy and happy life
