Mental health is a big deal, and some of our readers are on anxiety/depression meds and can't get out of their heads when having sex - how can they enjoy the moment? Also, how can they orgasm when these meds tend to lower libido/get in the way?
Satisfying, intimate relationships are a mindfulness practice, even when you aren't on anxiolytics. Everyone has to push outside thoughts away and come back to their sensual experience. So the first thing to acknowledge is that you are more like others than different. Most people have performance anxiety of some sort as well. Can I experience peak pleasure? Can I make them feel excellent? Do they want me?
There are some emotional strategies you can use to counteract performance anxiety. And physical strategies to offset low desire and difficulty achieving peak pleasure.
Many people have anxiety. It can include a lack of confidence or experience; trying too hard to do a good job instead of flowing with the moment. Some people are afraid of failure or criticism. Others have experienced shame or abuse. Sometimes you don't feel attracted to your partner like you used to, which causes more anxiety. Men worry about the size of their tool, if they can achieve rigidity, achieve peak pleasure, or if everything finishes too soon? For some, putting on protection creates anxiety. Women worry about how their vulva looks or smells. Will intimacy hurt? Will I get an STI or conceive?
All it takes is a single experience for the seed of doubt to be planted. Then anxious feelings interrupt the signals going from your entire body to your brain. This makes it easy for our fearful mind to get control. Telling yourself to stop being anxious just causes more anxiety. Making yourself feel bad because you're low on desire just dampens your arousal. Rather than fight or resist anxious thoughts and feelings, shift your attention to something that makes you feel good.
The most important skill you can develop, deep breathing, is also the easiest to learn and practice. Do it right now. Take a deep breath in, filling your lungs to the top, then let go and let the breath rush out. Relax. Anxiety excites your central nervous system and puts it on high alert. We call it the "fight or flight response" for a good reason. If you feel threatened, your body releases adrenaline so you can protect yourself from danger. But think about it: If your body wants to flee or gear up for a fight, will your libido want to play? The simplest way to restore calm to the body is to breathe deeply. I recommend a 4-second inhale through the nose, followed by a 7-second exhale through the mouth. This will calm your nervous system and shift you out of fight or flight and into a more relaxed state.
In the context of lovemaking, leading your partner in deep breathing will do two things. First, it will set up a masculine/feminine polarity. When you lead in breathing as the masculine, you're in charge - this aids in arousal. Secondly, when you get your partner to breathe deeply, the calming effect allows them to feel more turned on in their own body.
Let's continue our conversation about how you can lower and eliminate performance anxiety.
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