Relationships (Page 2)

ghosting

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In: Health, Relationships, Women

A few years ago, I met a young woman who needed help moving on from a relationship which had ended two years previously. As Leanne began to tell her story, I learnt that she’d met a man through a colleague and they’d began dating soon after. What followed was, as she described, one of the most romantic, intimate relationships she’d ever experienced. One morning, six months later, he left her apartment to go to work and that was the last she ever saw of him. After calling and messaging him numerous times and receiving no reply, she was sent into a tailspin of thoughts andRead More…

difference in sexual desire

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In: Relationships, Women

Difference in sexual desire happens because individuals and circumstances change. But can this be the reason for long-term relationships to fail? Psychosexual & Relationship Therapist Anna Catania delves deep into the root causes of this problem… Sexual desire can be defined as a wish to engage in sexual activity. This can be sparked by a number of cues including erotic books, videos or pictures (certain scenes in Bridgerton for example), private thoughts, fantasies, feelings and particular social interactions. Moreover, sexual desire can at times be accompanied by biological changes including an increase in heart rate and breathing, erect nipples and genital arousal including penile erectionRead More…

experiencing loss and grief

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In: Relationships, Women

Experiencing loss and grief in an intimate relationship can be very hard. Ending an intimate relationship can be an extremely distressing experience even if the decision to do so is ours. There is loss of the physical presence of the person, loss of routine, loss of doing things together, loss of good times shared. Most of the time there are practical matters to be addressed and difficult emotions to work through. We might be feeling as though hollow inside or carrying a heavy burden with us everywhere we go. Loss is painful and it’s normal to try and avoid pain in our everyday lives. InRead More…

anorgasmia

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In: Relationships, Women

Female orgasmic disorder or anorgasmia is the inability to reach orgasm during sex or through sexual stimulation. Colloquially we use words like: “I did not come” or “I did not finish” after having sex. In my clinical experience, women can experience distress when they do not reach orgasm because they fear that there is something wrong with them or that their bodies are not functioning well. However, recent research indicates that in most cases anorgasmia does not stem from a biological problem. In fact, reasons for not reaching orgasm can be various and may include stress and/or anxiety, not giving oneself enough time to enjoyRead More…

feminist relationship relazzjoni femminista

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In: Relationships, Women

What does having a feminist partner mean? The definition of feminism is: the advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes. Thus, having a feminist relationship would mean that your partner believes in the principle of equity within your union. This can be manifested as being open to going against stereotypes, if that is what is needed/wanted. On the contrary, it could also mean taking on stereotypical roles. The idea is that one does not rely on expectations, but what works for the couple in question. There is a broad misconception that feminists cannot be stay-at-home mums or working dads,Read More…

sex in relationships

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In: Relationships, Women

Having sex during the pandemic may not be as easy as before, but with careful planning you can bring sexual intimacy back into your lives… Life has become somewhat bizarre; in everything we do, we have had to adapt to using the same space. Every room in the house has become a place to work, talk, entertain ourselves, listen to lectures, eat, discuss. Some couples are using this time to reconnect, spend time together and with their family. Others haven’t had it as easy, especially if their relationship was already on the brink of trouble. Parents, especially those having younger children, have an extra challengeRead More…

sexual consent

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In: Relationships, Women

If we are drunk or if everyone around us seems to be doing it, we might feel pressured to have sex. This is where sexual consent comes in. We need to talk about consent…it’s not really a sexy word…but it can help us have great sex… In theory we all understand that if, for example, I am feeling hungry and my friend is eating a packet of crisps, I should ask before taking some, not just pop my hand into the packet and grab a handful. The same applies with sexual consent. In theory we understand the concept of having our own personal space andRead More…

romantic expectations

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In: Relationships, Women

The “happy-ever-after” in a long lasting relationship seems to be elusive. This could be the result of pre-built romantic expectations … I read regularly on Women for Women (Malta) comments like “Where are all the good men?” “Is it possible for a 30+ year old to find a relationship which is not just for sex?” “I am going through a rough patch and it seems I can’t take a leap of faith in relationships” “My love life was never a good one due to the deep, profound psychological trauma that I had after an abusive relationship” “How can I ever trust again?” In my lineRead More…

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In: Relationships, Women

A mindful sex app has been created using techniques such as cognitive behavioural therapy promoting pleasure, confidence and health for women. For centuries, research has seen a huge male bias, creating a gap in knowledge about women’s health. Research now shows that a half of the men and women surveyed in Britain had a serious lack in identifying and understanding the function of a vagina. This is compounded by poor perceptions around female pleasure that are derived from porn. This is why two young entrepreneurs set out to change the narrative around women’s sexual wellbeing. Quinlan, 29, and Hushlak, 31, have launched a mindful sexRead More…

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In: Relationships, Women

“As young girls, we have been taught to associate sexiness with external factors but confidence in women is the sexiest thing a woman can wear…” I have recently followed a very interesting thread on Women for Women’s Facebook page about how we, as women can be sexier. There were range of comments from “I’m a goofball”, “trying to be sexy makes me cringe” to “be happy in your own skin”, ‘ we all have our own brand of sexy”. As young girls, we have been taught to associate sexiness with external factors – the way our body looks, the clothes we wear, the make-up weRead More…