DEALING WITH FAMILY IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: LOVE AND INTIMACY
Friday, February 25th, 2011At some time nearly everyone’s love life is affected by the daily stresses of living. Changes in energy, emotions, personal body image, and self-esteem directly affect how you feel as a sexual person. If you do not feel attractive, for example, you will not expect others to be attracted to you. To improve or renew your intimate relationships, you must first address the issues of energy, emotions, body image, and self-esteem in your life. When you start feeling strong and in control of your life, everything will change for you. With renewed confidence and self-esteem you will realize that you are a loving (and lovable) person capable of, and deserving of, an enduring and fulfilling relationship with your partner.
One key to a successful, loving relationship is communication, and this is particularly true when one partner has a health problem. It is not always easy for people to discuss their intimate concerns, however. But consider the following questions. If they are left unasked – and unanswered – they can seriously damage a relationship.
• Am I still attractive to my partner?
• Am I hurting her?
• Is he still interested?
• Why isn’t he more concerned with my needs?
Misunderstandings over issues of intimacy can linger for months if they are not addressed. As a result, one or both partners may begin to avoid intimacy and even situations that may lead to intimacy. Once this pattern of aloofness is begun, it may be difficult to break. Communication is the key. Express your concerns to your partner:
• Do you still find me attractive?
• Am I hurting you?
• I want to make love but you seem distant. What’s going on?
• Maybe you don’t realize that sex first thing in the morning is often painful for me. Can we schedule a rendezvous for lunchtime?
There may be times during which physical limitations – fatigue, painful joints, and restricted motion – interfere with your sex life. Creativity is very helpful in overcoming these obstacles. Upon request, the Arthritis Foundation will send you a free pamphlet called “Living and Loving” which provides guidelines for comfortable physical intimacy. Here are some suggestions:
• Plan for sex at the time of day when you feel best.
• Take pain relief medicine ahead of time so that it takes effect before intercourse.
• Pace activities during the day to avoid becoming fatigued before sex.
• Perform range-of-motion exercises to relax your joints before sex.
• Take a warm bath or shower before sex to relax both you and your joints.
Planning for sexual activity may seem awkward and contrived when you first start doing it. But it need not be. With creativity and imagination the preparation can become an exciting and stimulating addition to your relationship. It also sends a message to your partner that you desire to continue and expand your intimate relationship.
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