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Stress has an insidious effect on our lives – taking a toll on our physical, emotional and relationship health, probably more than we realise.
Stress can adversely affect our sex lives as well, the Huffington Post reported.
Stress contributes to a negative body image, and bad body image equals bad sex. The hormones produced in association with stress can impact our metabolism. If we feel sluggish or if we gain weight, it can make us feel badly about our physiques. If we don’t like our bodies, it is pretty difficult to find the desire to shed your clothes and jump into bed with your partner.
Lower self-image equals less sex and less sex creates relationship problems. Ideally, our relationship should enhance who we are, not make us feel more stressed. And one of the biggest stressors we can have is our relationship, if we don’t take the time to nurture it.
Stress takes a toll on our libido – cortisol is one of the hormones produced by stress, and you might have heard of it if you’ve ever seen those late night diet pill commercials with the image of the pixelated woman gaining weight in her abdomen.
Our bodies need this hormone, but in small doses for short bursts of time. If elevated levels of Cortisol are being produced for a prolonged period of time, they suppress our sex hormones. Lower quantity of sex hormones equals lower libido.
