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Disturbed About Symptoms

Writer: Deric HollingsDeric Hollings
Mar 25 min read

 

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) uses the ABC model to illustrate that when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe some unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption and not the occurrence itself that causes an unpleasant Consequence.

 

For example, suppose that during sexual intercourse (Action) John Doe unaccommodatingly Believes, “I must be able to perform well and if unable to do so, then I’m worthless!” With his personal narrative, John becomes frustrated and experiences erectile dysfunction (Consequence).

 

John’s demandingness assumption, when used with a self-downing personal philosophy, is what causes an unpleasant emotive outcome along with undesired impotence—an inability in a man to achieve or maintain an erection. John’s experience isn’t an uncommon self-disturbed situation.

 

According to one 2022 source, 85.2% of men under 40 years of age had psychogenic erectile dysfunction as a primary etiology, compared with 14.8% who had an organic cause of this experience. However, this percentage has been disputed.

 

A separate and current source claims, “In the past, erectile dysfunction was commonly believed to be caused by psychological problems. It is now known that, for most men, erectile dysfunction is caused by physical problems, usually related to the blood supply of the penis.”

 

Regarding the book Creative Marriage, published in 1961, the authors state “that male inadequacy is, in some ninety-five per cent of all cases, largely caused by psychological disturbances” (page 123). Clearly, there are uncertain matters of causation in this regard.

 

Thus, when working with men who experience impotence, I generally encourage them to seek services from a physician or other medical specialist so that psychogenic versus organic causation may first be addressed. Suppose that John Doe’s doctor ruled out organic origin. 

 

Then, it may be the case that John’s belief-consequence (B-C) connection is what causes his unpleasant outcome. In essence, John disturbs himself with unhelpful beliefs which created an experience that is sometimes referred to as “sexual performance anxiety.”

 

Not uncommonly, people will at times disturb themselves about being self-disturbed in the first place. For instance, John may upset himself with unfavorable beliefs about symptoms of erectile dysfunction. Regarding this matter, authors of Creative Marriage state (page 126):

 

This, unfortunately, is what almost inevitably happens to neurotics. The primary reasons for their symptoms of disturbance may indeed be important factors in the causation of these symptoms. But once the symptoms start—once the obsessions, compulsions, phobias, psychosomatic complaints, or other neurotic results are well established—the patient becomes so disturbed about the symptoms themselves that his neurosis becomes quadruply intensified.

 

Thus, fear of criticism may originally produce stuttering; but then fear of stuttering may produce still more, and more, and still more stuttering. Unsatisfied and conflicting sex desires may originally lead to insomnia; but then fear of insomnia may easily lead to worse, and worse, and still worse insomnia.

 

In the case of John, frustration with an inability to perform well during sexual intercourse may cause impotence. Then, neurotically obsessing about how awful it is that he can’t perform, and how he can’t stand being impotent, leads to more and more, and still more erectile dysfunction.

 

Being disturbed about symptoms isn’t pleasant. If John’s interest and goal is to perform in bed—whether well or not—then he may begin by Disputing his irrational Beliefs which cause an unwanted Consequence. With Effective new beliefs, John may then be able to perform.

 

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

 

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

 

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

 

 

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW


 

References:

 

Ciaccio, V. and Di Giacomo, D. (2022, June 6). Psychological factors related to impotence as a sexual dysfunction in young men: A literature scan for noteworthy research frameworks. International Journal of Clinical Practice. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9326597/

Ellis, A. and Harper, R. A. (1961). Creative Marriage. The Institute For Rational Living, Inc. Retrieved from https://www.pdfdrive.com/creative-marriage-e184052310.html

Hollings, D. (2024, November 15). Assumptions. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/assumptions

Hollings, D. (2024, August 7). Awfulizing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/awfulizing

Hollings, D. (2024, October 27). Correlation does not imply causation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/correlation-does-not-imply-causation

Hollings, D. (2022, October 31). Demandingness. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/demandingness

Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer

Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use

Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better

Hollings, D. (2023, September 13). Global evaluations. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/global-evaluations

Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/

Hollings, D. (2024, January 2). Interests and goals. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/interests-and-goals

Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

Hollings, D. (2022, December 2). Low frustration tolerance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/low-frustration-tolerance

Hollings, D. (2024, June 3). Neurosis. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/neurosis

Hollings, D. (2023, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings

Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist

Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt

Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance

Hollings, D. (2025, January 6). Self-downing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-downing

Hollings, D. (2022, October 7). Should, must, and ought. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/should-must-and-ought

Hollings, D. (2022, December 25). The B-C connection. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-b-c-connection

Hollings, D. (2024, October 2). The paradox of hating to be disturbed. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-paradox-of-hating-to-be-disturbed

Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal

Hollings, D. (2025, January 9). Traditional ABC model. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/traditional-abc-model

Hollings, D. (2024, September 25). Unrealistic philosophies. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unrealistic-philosophies

Johns Hopkins Medical. (n.d.). Erectile dysfunction. The Johns Hopkins University. Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/erectile-dysfunction

 
 
 

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