Psychosexual Disorders

Our society has a lot of taboos around discussing sex, and both men and women can experience the weight of societal pressure and expectations when it comes to sex, as well as difficult emotions of shame and embarrassment. In this context, sexual problems can be very hard to address. But psychosexual issues are actually quite common, and are often very treatable.

When it seems as though someone might have a psychosexual issue, perhaps manifesting as the inability to become aroused or experience orgasm, the first thing to do is to rule out any underlying physical reason. If there is no obvious medical cause, it is likely that the root problem is psychological in origin.

Psychosexual problems matter not just because the individual finds it harder to have a satisfying sex life, but also because of the potential repercussions in terms of the happiness they find in the context of their personal relationships, and their self-esteem. Untreated, psychosexual problems can contribute to depression, anxiety, and more, and all of this can have a serious “ripple effect”, with an impact on every area of their lives.

In some people, psychosexual problems arise from an earlier traumatic sexual experience, such as rape or abuse. In others, they are a by-product of another psychological condition.