Sex Is Important
So why do we wait for sex to ruin our relationships?
During my time in private practice I kept seeing the same story. One person wanting more sex, while the other had anxiety about ‘performing’. Anxiety caused stress, and stress isn’t sexy. So no sex. The first person waits, and waits, and waits, until their frustration at the rejection reaches a peak. Something has to change or else.
And that’s when they came to me. Already holding huge emotions, already contemplating whether the relationship can be ‘saved’. So why do we wait so long?
While the media tells us we’re getting more progressive in talking about sex (which we are!), we still have a long way to go. Talking about sex openly might happen through the comfort of our keyboard, but being honest with our partners is a much harder thing to do. Its hard for people to talk about sex even when its great, toe curling and filled with orgasms! So we can’t be that surprised it's even harder when our sex life isn’t meeting our expectations. When it starts to eat away at our self esteem, confidence and happiness. But I’ve been wondering recently if it goes beyond sex as a hard dinner table conversation, and to our collective dismissal that sex is important. So together, in reading this, let's change the narrative!
Sex is allowed to be important to you. It’s allowed to be needed, wanted and desired. You’re allowed to ask for it, talk about it, and fight for the kind of sex life you want. But you’re also allowed to need help in getting there. You’re allowed to need help communicating with your partner/s. It’s okay if you need help allowing yourself to be sexual. So let’s agree not to wait so long. Because everyone has a right to pleasure.
Lauren French (She/Her), is a proud Karajarri women from Larrakia lands in the NT, currently calling Wurundjeri country home. She’s a Sexologist, sexuality & relationship educator and social change maker. Lauren holds membership with the Society of Australian Sexologists, Australian Society of Sex Educators Researchers and Therapists (ASSERT) NSW, and the Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association. With a Bachelor of Psychology and a Master of Sexology, Lauren is passionate about supporting open, honest and positive conversations around sex.