HOW TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT LOW LIBIDO IN LOCKDOWN

Low libido may be caused by sexual issues and emotional and financial insecurities. Read this article to understand the importance of libido, the causes, and how to cope with low libido.

Libido is sexual energy and desire. Your libido depends on a lot of things besides your genitals. Sometimes your libido is beyond you and exists independently, as some people want libido even in war-torn zones. You do not have to be in a good place to have libido, and you also do not have to be in a bad place to have a libido. Your sex drive and desire can fluctuate or increase anytime, even in a 'good place'. Read on to understand more about why having libido is important and how to cope with it during the lockdown;

The Importance Of Libido

Libido is important because it gives us the urge to have sex. To know why libido is important, one ought to understand the importance of sex. Some of the reasons why sex is important to have been stated by  Hoppe (2010) are as follows.

• Sex makes individuals live longer because when they touch, they send signals to their bodies that are pleasurable and nurturing.
• Perelman (2016) explained that sex reduces depression and stress since orgasm will calm you and make you sleep.
• Sex strengthens the immune system by increasing the body's ability to create antibodies.
• Sex is good for the brain and can improve your memory and sense of smell. When you have sex, blood is pumped to the brain's hypothalamus, which is responsible for learning and learning.
• Sex is great for vaginal health. The slogan here is 'use it or lose it. If you do not have less sex, your vagina may get dry and itchy. Sex keeps the vagina supple and healthy.

The reasons above prove that not having sex is a genuine concern.

What Are The Causes Of Low Libido?

If you do not have sex, the following are the most common causes of low libido;

Relationship problems that make you worry about your sex life, including your insecurities, can harm your libido. The low libido in your relationship may be caused by;

• Poor communication
• Lack of sexual attraction
• Arguments and conflicts
• Distrust
• Abuse

Sometimes counseling may help restore the relationship so that the couple can regain their libido.

Sexual issues

Physical issues may affect a person's ability to desire and enjoy sex. For example, vaginal dryness, vaginismus, and painful sex. Ejaculation problems may also cause low libido. (Fine, 2004) explained that physical issues will inhibit a person's sex drive or prevent them from enjoying sex even if they have a sexual desire. Sexual issues can be solved and treated professionally.

Stress, Anxiety, And Fatigue

If you are stressed out, anxious, or exhausted, you may feel too drained to want to have sex. The person may need to visit the doctor to understand and possibly treat the underlying issues.

Depression

Some people may think that depression is being unhappy or stressed out, but depression is more serious than that because it is a long-term illness that should be attended to by a doctor. There are treatments for depression which include therapy and antidepressants.

Age

As we grow older, our libido also decreases. The following are the reasons why people lose sexual desire as they grow older;

• Lower estrogen in women before, during, and after menopause
• Lower testosterone in men
• Health issues related to health such as arthritis and diabetes

Visiting the doctor to know how to treat the issues may be useful because some age-related issues are treatable. For instance, hormone replacement therapy. In menopause, the woman can use lubrication if she is experiencing vaginal dryness.

Factors That May Cause People To Have Low Libido During Lockdown

The factors that cause low libido during lockdown include the common problems that cause low libido and more;

Long-Distance Relationships

Jurkane-Hobein, (2015) explained that a lack of physical intimacy in long-distance relationships might lead to frustrations and low libido in having with that part. Out of sight may be out of mind sometimes. To maintain a relationship, you must be physically and emotionally close with your partner. For a long-term relationship to work, the couple must keep their connection tight through communication, without which the libido will diminish, and the relationship will die.

Cabin Fever

Couples being together all day can make them sick of each other. Too much monotony and routine causes boredom. The libido seems to reduce when you see someone all the time because they become too familiar. For relationships to thrive, the couple needs some space between them.

Illness

Some people had to help their partners cope with the illness, and sometimes both partners were down with Covid. So, all their energy is directed at helping each other through the illness. Covid drains people of their energy and makes it hard for them to breathe when they get infected with it properly, and it is hard to be treating it and still have a high libido.

Emotional Insecurities

Insecurities also exist because the couples may be miles apart and spend less time together. Naturally, they may meet new friends and acquaintances elsewhere online or physically, leading to insecurities between the couple.

Financial Insecurities

When covid struck, many jobs were affected, resulting in the loss of livelihood by some people. Relationships without finances are tough because of the realities of life in that almost everything costs money. Your libido will not be high when you are facing financial problems.

Substance abuse

Being stressed out from staying in the same place for too long and boredom may lead to substance abuse.

How to cope with low libido

The following are some tips that can help you cope with low libido;

• Communicate with your partner, the distance notwithstanding. As you spend time afar or close to each other, you may take communication with each other for granted.
• Seek therapy. For the issues that are too complicated for you to solve by yourself, you may need professional help, such as sexual, physical, and emotional issues.
• Make some ‘our time’ when you and your couple make time to spend with yourselves. Dress up and have an indoor date.

Conclusion

Libido is important among couples because a lack of it will impact their sex life. After all, intimacy is the main reason people get into relationships and marriage. Therefore, lack of libido means a lack of intimacy and may lead to resentment. The couple should seek ways to find their libido and may need to seek therapy. Communication is also important. Planning indoor dates every weekend may be a great break from day-to-day monotony and boredom. If the couple feels low because of financial constraints, they should pull themselves up by finding ideas to help them survive financially.

References

Fine, S. R. (2004). Erectile dysfunction and comorbid diseases, androgen deficiency, and diminished libido in men. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 104(1_suppl), 9S-15S.

Hoppe, D. (2010). Healthy Sex Drive, Healthy You: What Your Libido Reveals About Your Life. Greenleaf Book Group.

Jurkane-Hobein, I. (2015). Imagining the absent partner: Intimacy and imagination in long-distance relationships. Innovative Issues and Approaches in Social Sciences, 8(1), 223-241.

Perelman, M. A. (2016). Psychosexual therapy for delayed ejaculation is based on the sexual tipping point model. Translational andrology and urology, 5(4), 563.