How Does Stress Affect Sexual Desire?

If you have experienced large amount of stress recently, you may have also noticed a drop in your sex drive, otherwise known as your libido. This is because with the emotional feelings that come with being stressed, also come internal physical changes as a side effect of stress. These changes can interfere with the hormones needed to become sexually aroused.

When your body becomes stressed the "fight or flight" response is triggered. This response is an internal way of your body getting ready to either stand and fight, or run away in a dangerous situation. Once the fight or flight status has been activated, your body starts producing hormones to help during the response. These hormones interrupt other hormones in your body that are responsible for sexual desire.

The fight or flight response consists of two main hormones, cortisol and adrenaline (epinephrine). These hormones are produced each time you become stressed. However, over time, if these hormones are produced on a non-stop basis, your body enters chronic stress mode. Chronic stress can eventually cause difficulty in achieving an erection, a loss of sexual desire, and an inability to orgasm.

The best way to reverse the effect that stress has had on your sexual desire is to practice stress relief techniques in your life such as deep breathing or yoga. Activities, such as exercise, that release stress-fighting hormones such as endorphins can also counteract the effects that stress has had on your libido.