Can stress and anxiety cause erectile dysfunction?

Absolutely. Mental health plays a big role in sexual performance. Stress, anxiety, and depression can interfere with how your brain signals arousal and blood flow. Even performance anxiety—worrying about your ability to get or keep an erection—can make the problem worse. This creates a cycle where anxiety feeds into ED. The good news is that therapy, counseling, and stress management techniques like meditation or exercise can help. In some cases, medication may be used alongside therapy. If you think stress is a cause, consider talking to a mental health professional as well as your doctor.