Why Trying Harder Makes Erections Harder (to Achieve) with Laura Berman

Language of Love with Dr. Laura Berman · Aug 17, 2026 · 6m

You're with someone you're attracted to. Things are going well. You want to have sex.

And then your body doesn't respond the way you expected.

Within seconds, your mind starts racing.

What's wrong with me?

Why is this happening?

What is my partner thinking?

For many men, the erection )and whether it works or not) isn't the biggest problem. It's what happens next. The self-doubt. The panic. The pressure. The fear that it will happen again.

Ironically, those thoughts are often what keep the cycle going.

The truth is, erection difficulties are rarely just about attraction, masculinity, or even…