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Relationship How To Cope Without Intimacy Until Sufferer Is Ready

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Futureseeker

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I was wondering how do others cope with needs of intimacy, emotional and physical, while waiting for their partner to become ready for it. I have read how others cheat or leave the relationship. For me neither are options. Some nights when sleeping in seperate rooms the need for their love can be overwhelming and difficult to get on in life. For me it causes anxiety and depression. After being married for years and no intimacy there are days that can be a challenge.

What coping mechanisms do others use to remain faithful and emotionally healthy?
 
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As a sufferer, I don't know. My other half and I have found a solution, but it's not a 'faithful' one, even though it does take the guilt off me for saying no, it's now put guilt onto him.

I honestly don't know because everyone is different. As my T says, it's about the sufferer wanting to break down bad associations until they can comfortably want and handle intimacy.

It can be done, but it's a long road.
 
Hi Joel. My husband and I are largely celibate in marriage due to my PTSD and sexual dysfunction. We do not sleep at present in separate rooms, though there have been times I have had to do so (I am the suffer). We are a faith based household but that didn't stop him from self pleasuring for a time with porn or initiating an online conversation with an anonymous woman. On discovery, we both received counseling in our church. There is intimacy in our home now, but not actual intercourse as I am unable to push past the physical discomfort to do so.

As my difficulty has gone on, we are both settled into a period of trying, and then not trying. It is our hope that this part of our marriage will be eventually resolved one day. Candidly, he self pleasures for "release", but use of porn or involvement for sexual purposes by either of us with other people is our boundary for each other. He has come to realize that the dysfunction is a result of sexual assaults and rape... not anything that he has said or done. He was treated for depression for a time but is managed without medications, as am I.

It is not hopeless, it is just taking time as there is no treatment options for sexual dysfunction in my area or I would have been there "yesterday". If you and your partner live in an area where there is assessment for sexual dysfunction, it may be worth the effort. Short of that perhaps it can come up in a joint session (or a few) with her therapist.

The thing that binds us is our vow, and also that in spite of my difficulties, he does love me and I love him. God sanctifies marriage... and into each life there are trials. We try to remind ourselves of that as needed. So far, it is less than stellar, but we have a truce on this issue until a way opens up for me to address it.
 
For me neither are options.

It is also the only choice for me. Angel didn't quite have that. Instead, she goes (went) through separation times. There has always been depression to a mild extent at those points.

It has always helped to know that she was worth it! I guess there were fantasies to help. I think I'll just shut up now!

Bear
 
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