Sexual Frustration
From Halbeeg, the open encyclopedia · Af-Soomaali
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Sexual frustration is an emotional state arising when a person's desire for sexual activity goes unfulfilled. It is a common experience that many people pass through at different points in life and is not a distinct medical condition.
The term is used in two ways. One is the everyday sense referring to irritation arising from an intimate or personal relationship. The other is a psychological usage explaining the effects that unmet desire can have on behavior, sleep, and social interaction.
Common causes
Causes are varied. They include mismatch in sexual desire between partners, physical separation due to travel or work, physical illness or medications that affect desire, stress and mental fatigue, and prolonged periods of solitude. Additionally, social expectations or media-generated images sometimes create standards that a person feels unable to meet.
Manifestations and effects
Some people report irritability, low mood, or significant sleep disturbance. Others notice little effect. What matters depends on duration and how the individual interprets the situation. When the condition persists and begins to impair work or relationships, it may be a sign of something else such as depression, relationship conflict, or a physical problem requiring investigation.
Management
Common recommendations include open communication between partners, examination of one's expectations, improved sleep and exercise, and stress reduction. When a physical cause or medication effect is suspected, a doctor should be consulted. Couples counseling and sex therapy are also used by many people.