PTSD and Sexual Dysfunction in Men and Women

[madman]

Conclusion
Trauma exposure can profoundly rupture an individual’s sense of safety, self-efficacy, and ability to trust and feel connected to others, features considered fundamental to healthy sexual functioning. The psychobiology of PTSD may result in an association of arousal with threat, an impaired ability to downregulate the fear response, and difficulty engaging the inhibitory neurobiological processes associated with sexual activity. Sexual arousal mimics the physiological experience of fear, and once these associations have been forged in the intense experience of trauma, it can be difficult to uncouple them. It is not yet known whether problems with sexual function are better explained by the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral symptoms of PTSD, such as avoidance, hypervigilance, and emotional
numbing, whether there is a biological component to the comorbidity, or whether there are other drivers, such as depression or medication. It is also unclear whether PTSD is associated with an overall inability to function sexually (i.e., alone, with a relative stranger), or only in the context of an affiliative, intimate relationship. Given the centrality of sexuality to interpersonal relationships and quality of life, further research on the comorbidity and treatment of sexual dysfunction and PTSD is warranted. Clinicians should assess for comorbid conditions during evaluation and treatment planning and provide education to patients and their partners.

 

[Tommy Wall]

Very interesting indeed. People with cronic stress, fear and anxiety might even recognize some of these issues. Sexual arousal etc.. seem like they go hand in hand with some of the mentioned other triggers.
Eventhough I don´t suffer from PTSD but due long time job stress and worries I became stressed/burned out 10 years ago. I can remember my life before and after and I never managed to get to my old me. Struggled with morning anxiety, worse senario thoughts etc..and had to go on SSRI´s just to cope and it made me better but never like I was before. Its like my stress sensors became damaged for life. I used to like to make love in the morning and couldn´t wait for my wife to wake up. But after my problems started it is more or less impossible because morning anxiety I rather wake up earlier to avoid any sexual requests. Its feel like instead of become horney it just produce more stress and anxiety and therefor I prefer to avoid sex. Its like the brain doesn´t send out the right signal for sexual arousal leading to sex instead it triggers fear and anxiety specially in the morning. At night its better but not like before now I have preformance anxiety even in bed with a woman I´m married to for 25 years. That is the reasong I found the article very interesting.

 

[Vince Carter]

I have a fair, my girlfriend might say A LOT of trust issues that are rooted in PTSD from my military service. Past personal relationships are in that matrix, too, but the trust thing for me is pretty bad. As we I think we know the intimacy part of the relationship is founded in trust so I have seriously considered that in my differing levels of sexual dysfunction when I'm literally doing everything else correctly.