Ah yes, when stress takes over sex.
I think this is something we all can relate to right now.
I don’t know if you read the news (if you don’t, no need to start now), but times are hectic.
Every time I read the news on my phone, a mountain of stress is piled onto the existing mountain of stress I take on every day.
And I know I’m not any different than you.
We have and will all experience major stress in our lives. Whether it’s a chronic illness, accident, losing a job, death in the family, or a breakup. It’s a part of life; a part we cannot avoid.
No matter what we do to reduce the stress in our lives, some things are simply out of our hands. And what usually happens, is that the stress affects our sex life.
Now, it’s okay to go through periods where you do not want to have sex. It’s normal. The stress you’re experiencing is shooting high levels of cortisol into your body which suppresses your sex hormones.
Your body is telling you that you need a break. So listen to it.
The problem comes when, while your body has reduced levels of sex hormones, you step back from the relationship. Not only removing yourself sexually but emotionally and mentally as well.
So, how can you keep your relationship grounded when stress overtakes sex (and basically your relationship as a whole)?
Here’s what you can do.
When Stress Overtakes Sex
The solution is a lot easier than you may think it is. Right now, you’re in the middle of a storm, but I’m going to show you what you should do when stress overtakes sex.
Communicate with your partner
While you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed, what you shouldn’t do is step out of the relationship and retreat into yourself.
We tend to do this, but stopping communication will only create distance between you and your partner. If you stop communicating, walls will go up.
So, invest the time in talking to your partner about how you’re feeling, what you need, and how they can support you. Also, see how they’re feeling – they’re probably affected by this situation as well.
Make yourself a priority
Stress can severely affect your physical, emotional, and mental health. This means you need to make it a priority to take care of yourself.
To remedy stress, eat a balanced diet, no processed foods, and drink lots of water. Avoid alcohol and substances. Go for walks or stick with the exercise routine you currently have.
In other words, take care of yourself.
Seek therapy
While the solutions to this may be easy, when you’re in the middle of chaos it can be hard to get there.
If you’re really struggling to manage and cope with the stress, I recommend seeking intimacy counselling or a therapist.
Knowing the tools of how to manage stress and what to do when stress overtake sex can help you find the balance.
Final thoughts
When you’re in the midst of everything, it can feel like there’s no way out. But the steps above can help when stress overtakes sex and your relationship.