Too stressed for sex? Tips for increasing sex-drive naturally

Tips for increasing sex-drive naturally

Valentine’s Day… a day to receive love, spread love and make love. But, for many, Valentine’s Day causes stress and anxiety.

If you feel like your sex drive is strained, or you are too stressed out for sex, you’re not alone. Dr. Teralyn Sell, Psychotherapist and brain health expert, offers some insight into how stress contributes to a decrease in one’s sex drive and how one can work to improve their libido naturally.

“Stress levels are high everywhere, but the difference between the reported amount of stress that men experience versus women is interesting. Women experience 50% more stress than men. Why is that? Well, many women tend to take on the majority of the household load while maintaining a full time job. Combine that with the ever increasing amounts of depression and anxiety that women are reporting (twice as much as men) we have a recipe for disaster in the bedroom. When it comes to how stress impacts sex, well men and women report they are just too tired to do it,” says Dr. Teralyn Sell. 

Too stressed for sex? Tips for increasing sex-drive naturally

Tip #1: Identify The 3 Types of Stress

Stress management isn’t just a theory, it must be put into practice. When you break it down into three manageable steps it becomes a bit easier. We have emotional stress, dietary stress and hidden sources of inflammatory stress. Work on balancing your life and digging deep into the emotional issues that might be holding you back from happiness. 

Note: dietary stress is a big one. Food somehow has become optional for people. Think of food as fuel for the brain. Without it, we are causing unnecessary stress on the brain and body. Inflammation is a big cause of stress and this can be from food sensitivities, eating poor quality food and not attending to pain from illness or injury. It can also be inflammation from struggling gut health.

Tip #2: Attend to your cortisol

Cortisol is your stress hormone and over time (and with chronic stress) it can flatten out. Some symptoms that your cortisol needs attending to is fatigue, feeling tired and wired, overwhelm, low libido, weight gain and more. Our body thrives on trying to create homeostasis. So, when cortisol is imbalance it will eventually steal from your sex hormones to pay the price of your stress hormones. Now you have sexual lethargy. 

Tip #3: Move more intentionally

Exercise doesn’t have to be at the gym. In fact, we need to change the way we think about exercise. Instead, just think of it as moving your body more. Thirty minutes of movement a day is all it takes to improve your mood, reduce your stress and more! Find something that you enjoy and make an appointment with yourself at the same time every day so it is non-negotiable. For instance, if you are working from home, before you move from your work chair to the couch, transition from work to home by going for a walk first. 

Tip #4 Create a bedroom oasis: Be sure your room temperature is cool and your bedding and bed is super comfortable.  You can also use the power of smell by diffusing essential oils in your bedroom such as lavender.  Research has found that lavender can positively affect sleep. Additionally, your brain will begin to associate the smell of lavender (or whatever scent you choose) with sleep and comfort. 

So, how can these Tips for increasing sex-drive naturally make Valentine’s Day feel sexier and less like a chore?

“Think of the time of day you are at your best and capitalize on that for Valentine’s Day Sex! Most people think of Valentine’s Day as date night. But, if you run out of energy after 5pm (or earlier) that would not be a great time for you to feel your sexiest. Instead, opt in for when your energy level is at it’s best and go from there. For instance, if you wake up feeling your best, have a breakfast date in bed followed by a couples shower and a little hanky panky on the side.  Set your intention early and make a commitment to yourself because you deserve pleasure!” says Dr. Teralyn Sell.