5 major sexual problems that Generation Z brings to treatment

Jackson hears from his Gen Z clients about concerns about erection problems and “nervousness about anal sex in general,” especially among the gay men he sees, “whether it’s at the top of the list, at the bottom, or they don’t want to do it either.”

“We live in a culture of shame, unfortunately, that bases judgment on your body shape and perceived sexual prowess,” he said.

“What I mean by this, for example, is that based on your appearance, someone might assign you a sexual script before you even have a chance to introduce yourself. If you somehow don’t fit the mold that’s been created for you, you’re probably going to get abused.” Treatment or shame for just being yourself, which can of course lead to increased anxiety while trying to have sex or be intimate with someone.”

When working with clients dealing with performance anxiety, Jackson often first asks them about their early models of sexual behavior. Although comprehensive sex education has become more accessible over the past decade, “there are still very pervasive and harmful messages about sex and intimacy that are deeply embedded in our culture and will not go away for some time.”

In their sessions, Jackson said he listens to generalizations and judgments and “becomes curious with them about what led to those beliefs being true.”

Sometimes, he even opens up about his own experiences with erectile dysfunction or sex-related anxiety “in an effort to reveal that what we experience in isolation is more common than we first think,” he says.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.