As we have previously commented, stress is a response of our body, at a cognitive, physiological and behavioral level to certain situations. This activation allows us to have a rhythm or level necessary to be able to attend complex tasks, solve problems, make efforts, etc.

In this process different functions such as the ability to think or attend and systems such as cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, dermatological, immunological, gastrointestinal or musculoskeletal are accelerated or affected.

For our daily life, that is, to eat, sleep, work or have sex, different functions and systems must be activated and deactivated according to each moment. For example, to work, we need a medium level of physiological activation, and yet to sleep, the level required is low.

If we are poorly activated, we cannot meet the demands of our working life and if we are excessively active, we cannot fall asleep.



Sexual function requires a certain degree of emotional well-being and communication with the partner, as well as resources (energy, vitality, attention to one's own needs and that of the partner, sexual desire, fantasies, the ability to seduce, etc.) that are being exhausted with stress, tiredness or exhaustion.

Our agency is extremely smart and allocates resources by setting priorities. If we have to do something very important, it will allocate the necessary reserves but ceasing to attend to other functions that it considers less urgent at the time, such as the regeneration of the skin or hair, the strengthening of the bones and the immune system, fertility or sexuality.



Sexual desire is different for people. Its variations affect both men and women and can be eventual or prolonged in time. When there are difficulties in having sex, it is called sexual dysfunction and it can be due to many factors, some of an organic type, the least frequent, and others of a psychological and emotional nature. Some of these factors are:

Lack of information or disinformation.
Negative attitudes towards sex.
Stock problems.
Inadequate learning.
Communication difficulties with the partner.
Lack of appropriate behaviors to achieve satisfactory sexual interaction.
Difficulties in finding a partner and normalizing sex life.
In the same way that stress can alter sexual life, having satisfactory sexual relations with our partner, helps to reduce the level of stress through various mechanisms:

The generation of endorphins increasing well-being.
The increase in serotonin levels, which acts as an antidepressant and improves mood.
Decreased physiological activation by decreasing the release of cortisol, the stress hormone.
Improving cardiovascular function.
It helps to sleep better since physiological relaxation and increased subjective well-being improve conditions for falling asleep.
Improved communication and bonding with the partner due to the release of oxytocin during orgasm, a hormone responsible for establishing and promoting empathy, attachment and care.
The opposite case can also occur, that is, that the different needs of each of the members of the couple or the lack of empathy lead to conflict and therefore, an increase in stress.



Happy couples exchange reinforcements, positive affection, communication, support, serenity, and security, making their sexual relationships more frequent and satisfying. However, couples in crisis who exchange discussions, reproaches, threats, periods of incommunicado and other forms of punishment that can lead to physical and psychological abuse, have few sexual relations and do not satisfy any of the members of the couple.

The psychological treatment of sexual dysfunction problems are addressed as a couple problem and not only one of its members. Most sexual dysfunctions are learned, either through education, through accumulated experiences or through cognitive activity maintained during sexual intercourse.