Performance anxiety is caused by thoughts, negative experience associations with events that pertain to sex, public speaking, meetings, or any type of performance. Erectile dysfunction can sometimes be confused for performance anxiety. Sometimes men have doubts and fears about their body image, relationship problems, and external perception which leads to self-doubt and anxiety when it comes time to perform.

Anxiety can hinder your ability to perform to your fullest by causing you to fear interaction with others in social situations. It can cause ED by limiting blood circulation to your penis which limits your ability to attain and sustain an erection. Performance anxiety will also increase your sympathetic nervous system tone which is our “fight or flight” safety mechanism. This will lead to rapid heart rate, sweating, difficulty concentrating, and speaking.

We believe that anxiety is best treated with an on-going relationship with a medical doctor such as a psychiatrist but if our doctors think your symptoms are only related to performance related anxiety we can help you at Physician Promise. We offer FDA approved beta-blocker medications which work by decreasing your heart rate when you are about to enter a stressful situation. We offer both tablets and gummy formulations. It is as easy as taking one dose before a major anxiety provoking event.

We believe that overcoming performance anxiety requires a few steps:

• Identify the key triggers that make you nervous (i.e. sporting competition, public speaking, sexual relationship with spouse, etc)
• Try to overcome those negative emotional associations
• Prescription treatment such as propranolol prior to activity but never when operating heavy machinery or with high heights
• Believe in yourself and your ability to overcome this challenge