Physical/Emotional Distance

By midlife many of us have been in our relationships for decades, have endured ups and downs together.

We have formed habits of communicating or not communicating, and have longstanding sexual habits, too.

It's more common than not for longstanding couples to develop some emotional and physical distance that can stand in the way of a satisfying sex, especially for women. We often enjoy sex precisely for the physical closeness and emotional bonding it can offer. 

For those of us who haven't ever found a way to communicate openly in our relationships about our physical needs, menopause may be just the time to crack that door open. Your partner already anticipates that you will be experiencing changes in the way your body feels and responds. Because every one of us experiences menopause in our own way, it's up to us to share what we're feeling. That may feel overwhelming in a relationship where communication isn't a habit, but it's not as hard as you think. 

It is possible to restore physical and emotional attachment, even for couples who have grown quite distant, by establishing new habits of communication and touch. There are many paths to achieve this. Finding the right one for you is the key.

Learn about the actions you could take, listed at right, to address this condition or see other conditions that could affect you.