Intimacy requires love and emotions. It arises out of sense of security which means two people are close on a mental level that can be emotional, spiritual or more. Intimacy, by its very nature, requires us to be vulnerable.
Thus, are sex and intimacy different things? Can you have one without the other? In a traditional framework, sex comes with long term commitment or marriage which could be associated with the couple having an intimate connection with each other. Ideally, sex in a loving relationship should be a physical embodiment of intimacy. However, sex can also just be a physical act.
For many men, the word ‘intimacy’ is usually synonymous with ‘sex’. And sex is one of the few places where men will allow themselves to become emotionally vulnerable. But intimacy is far more than just sex (and sex can be devoid of intimacy). Intimacy encompasses the intellect, the emotions, non-sexual physical touch, and spirituality
Arguably, there is nothing more vulnerable than offering yourself to someone in the physical act of sex. This can come in any form of abuse and as such there is no intimacy. One of the hardest things for abuse survivors to do is separate sexual abuse from sex. Even if you liked the attention, approached your abuser for attention, were aroused, it’s still not sex and you are not responsible.
Also, you have to know whether it is the emotion that is making you vulnerable to sex in your relationship.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.