Two weeks ago I talked about Dr. Emily Nagoski's book, "Come As You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life," and I explained the four cues a woman's mind and body use to feel interest in intimacy.
Those are part of her "accelerator" system.
You must understand the equally important and opposing side of female sexual desire - her "braking" system.
Here are the eight ways that women's sexual braking systems are engaged.
Knowing these will help you identify what might be holding you back or if it's your partner whose brakes are squealing. You can explore how to support her in working through whichever of these issues is affecting your sex life:
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1. Body Self-Image
2. Concerns About Her Reputation
3. Founded or Unfounded Mental Worries
4. Sexually Transmitted Infections and Contraception Concerns
5. Feeling Desired versus Feeling Used by Partner
6. Feeling "Accepted" by Partner
7. Partner's Style of Sexual Approach and Timing at Sexual Initiation
8. Negative Mood
When you take responsibility for solving, compromising (in a good way!) or working around issues, it brings you closer together. Identifying and giving voice to your "braking system" can take your foot off the brakes and move you toward more pleasure.
Sometimes communication is hard when you can't identify what's holding your desire back. Knowing this list will help you put your finger on "it" so you can resolve the issue.
And because we women are hormonally-driven creatures, the list may differ each day, depending on what Dr. Nagoski calls, "context."
As your context, or situation and surroundings (including what's going on inside you mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically) change, your reasons for feeling your braking system working change.
Getting to know and honor yourself (or your lady) and finding what roadblocks to pleasure can be navigated around or through will bring you closer together.
Take time to explore and you'll be the richer for it.
Remember to be affectionate to yourself and your partner when gently opening up to these conversations.
Next up in this series is what to do about the #1 intimacy killer of all...
Can you guess what it is? Watch out for next week's emails.
You Are Perfect The Way You Are,
Susan
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