Imagine getting intimate with your partner when you suddenly have an oops moment. For male partners, this could be erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation. For females, it could be vaginismus or low arousal.
Issues in the bedroom might be caused by feeling self-conscious (“Will I be as good as the ex?”), body-image issues (“Does my postpartum body feel exciting for my partner?”) and external anxiety (“I can’t stop thinking about that impending deadline at work”).
Sexual dysfunction is a common problem in the UK, with an almost equal proportion of men and women saying they’ve had unsatisfactory experiences in the bedroom. 41.6% of men and 51.2% of women have reportedly experienced one or more intimacy problems.
While physical health can be a major contributor to sexual dysfunction, mental health is often overlooked in its role in intimacy. The mind body link is critical to enjoying intimacy and experiencing sexual pleasure.
Stress, anxiety, past trauma, and relationship issues can all impact your ability to feel arousal and reach orgasm, possibly causing you to experience performance anxiety. Sexual hypnotherapy is a successful method to address issues relating to anxiety and sex drive. I, Susannah Saunders, have over two decades of experience in hypnosis for intimacy, helping people overcome negative thoughts and past trauma, feel more confident in their body, and improve their relationships. Connect with me to learn more.
How Does Anxiety Affect Sexual Health and Intimacy
Having a third wheel in a relationship is never good, and this is worse when in bed. Anxiety can be a looming presence between the sheets, affecting you and your partner’s performance and pleasure.
When you suffer from anxiety, your mind directs your body as if it’s a fight-or-flight situation. This makes your body tense up, you start sweating, and your heart rate increases abnormally, which may lead to sexual dysfunction.
Anxiety and sex drive in men and women are directly related, especially those who suffer from body-image issues or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Let’s explore some common sexual problems caused by a negative mind body link:
Vaginismus in Women
Women who have undergone past trauma are conscious of their body, and often find it difficult to enjoy sex. Sexual anxiety can lead to involuntary tightening of the pelvic muscles, a condition known as vaginismus, which can make penetration difficult and painful.
Premature Ejaculation in Men
Anxiety and sex drive in men have a direct correlation, and premature ejaculation is a common side effect. Research has shown that 20 to 30% of men suffer from PE. If you have sexual performance anxiety, the sexual stimuli might lead to increased blood flow to the genitals and a quicker reflex arc.
Relationship Problems
Anxiety can also put a strain on your relationship with your partner. Whether you’re suffering from financial depression or work-related anxiety, you might find yourself isolating from your partner or struggling to communicate. A strained relationship makes it difficult to enjoy intimacy, leading to poor sexual performance.
Body-Image Issues
Body image issues are particularly common in women, especially after childbirth. Postpartum depression can make you feel self-conscious and underconfident. The mind body link makes you self-critical, and you may imagine your partner not finding your body desirable. Increased anxiety and self-consciousness will prevent you from enjoying yourself between the sheets, possibly leading to vaginismus, low arousal, and failure to orgasm.
The Role of the Subconscious in Sexual Wellness
To better understand the mind body link and its impact on intimacy, we need to look at the role of the subconscious.
Sexual arousal happens across two levels: conscious and subconscious.
The subconscious stores childhood trauma and beliefs. If you’ve previously experienced shame or ridicule, or been raised with guilt about your body or sex, you may subconsciously correlate intimacy with negative emotions.
The autonomic nervous system plays a pivotal role in sexual functions and is controlled by the subconscious. When you confuse sex with a negative emotion, your body will involuntarily inhibit physiological reactions to intimacy, leading to vaginismus or erectile dysfunction.
Many people resort to unhealthy coping strategies, such as over-reliance to porn, smoking, drinking or substance abuse, which can all further hamper your performance in bed.
How Can Sexual Hypnotherapy Make Intimacy Enjoyable
If you’re wondering how to improve intimacy when you’re dealing with issues that set you back in the bedroom, you can seek hypnosis for intimacy with me, Susannah, online or in person.
Here is how hypnotherapy can help you overcome sexual anxiety:
Reduce Performance Anxiety
If you’re constantly wondering whether you’re good in bed or if your partner finds you desirable, you’ll fail to live in the moment, leading to sexual dysfunction. During hypnosis for intimacy, I’ll introduce you to positive visualisation and breathing techniques, helping you subdue the inner critic that lives in your subconscious.
Boost Self-confidence
Do you feel conscious about your body? Hypnosis is effective in restoring self-confidence and self-esteem. While you’re in a hypnotised state, I’ll help introduce positive affirmations, remove negative thoughts and triggers, and help you feel empowered.
Heal Past Trauma
Did a past partner mock you in bed? Are you a victim of past abuse? Sexual hypnotherapy will help create positive associations between intimacy and trust and desensitise any past triggers. When you heal from within, you’ll be better equipped to handle life and nurture your relationships.
Contact Susannah for Hypnosis for Intimacy
The mind body link is often ignored, but it plays an important role in your sexual health and enjoyment.
If you’re looking for answers on how to improve intimacy, give sexual hypnotherapy a chance. When you work with me, I’ll access your subconscious mind and remove negative triggers and past trauma, instead reinforcing positive beliefs and confidence.
My hypnotherapy sessions are open to singles, couples, and people of all sexual orientations. Whether you’re dealing with a long-term issue or a recent phenomenon, I can help you address it in a positive way.
Connect with me today to learn more about treatments.
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