What is Intimacy?
Intimacy refers to the ability to have a deep connection with your partner
through vulnerability, trust, and respect. It is very important for couples to
have healthy intimacy with each other. This creates a feeling of safety and
security for the couple.
To understand in basic terms, intimacy is of two kinds:
Emotional Intimacy
Emotional intimacy refers to forming a deep emotional connection with your
partner. It allows for a special bond to be created between you and your
partner where you can trust them with your thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
People who have secure emotional intimacy with their partners don’t fear
rejection or judgment and are open to discussing wants, needs with their
partner. Emotional intimacy helps partners be more empathetic with each
other.
Physical Intimacy
Physical intimacy refers to forming a deep physical connection with your
partner. A physical connection does not always have to mean sex, it can mean
other non-sexual touches like holding hands, cuddling, caressing each other,
resting your head on their shoulder, etc. Physical intimacy is almost always a
result of emotional intimacy where these two components are interconnected to
each other. It is very important to maintain physical intimacy because it
helps in releasing the love hormone (oxytocin) that brings you closer to your
partner.
Why is Intimacy important in a Relationship?
Intimacy is extremely important in a relationship. It helps in deciding the
longevity and the health of your relationship. Those who have secure intimacy
with their partners last longer in the relationship and experience an elevated
level of well-being overall. On the other hand, those who don’t have secure
intimacy in their relationship are likely to experience an excess of negative
emotions like anxiety, apprehension, sadness, etc. Along with this, they are
also going to live in complete disconnection with their partner which can
cause a lot of frustration and resentment to build up. This is why it is very
important to engage in activities that preserve and enhance intimacy in your
relationship.
What are some ways I can Enhance my Partner s Intimacy?
Have you felt like you and your partner have lost your spark? Perhaps you or
your partner are overly occupied with thoughts? Perhaps you are noticing that
something is “off” with them and are wondering what you can do.
It is very normal for intimacy levels to fluctuate throughout the course of
your relationship, but you must never leave it unattended. Here are some ways
in which you can enhance your partner’s lost intimacy,
Be Honest with Them
The first thing you must do is, to be honest with your partner. You must
explain to them clearly what it is that you are feeling and express all your
emotions, wants, and needs in the open. This will make your partner aware of
the situation so you can later focus on resolving it.
Ask Them Questions
Next is to ask them questions about how they are feeling and what their
wants and needs are. You must encourage your partner to openly discuss their
wants and needs with you. Show interest in wanting to know their thoughts,
feelings, and emotions. This way your partner will know that you are
understanding and will slowly open up to you.
Make Plans Together
One of the ways in which intimacy depletes a relationship is when couples
don’t take time out for each other. This is why it is important that at least
once a week you must ensure that you and your partner do something together.
This can range from taking a hobby class together, or just having regular
movie nights over the weekend. When you experience activities together you are
unlocking a new level of vulnerability with your partner and this is going to
restore the lost intimacy.
Show them Affection
When we are caught up with our busy routines we often forget to show affection
to our partners. Show gratitude to them, thank them for doing what they can.
Shower them with regular compliments. Showing affection will give positive
reinforcement to your partner to continue doing what they have been doing.
When your partner feels content and satisfied, it is going to add positivity
to the environment.
Be Empathetic
It is very important to be empathetic to your partner. You must place yourself
in your partner’s shoes from time to properly understand how they are feeling.
If they are going through a hard time personally then offer your support to
them and encourage them to open up to you to feel lighter. When you are
empathetic to your partner, you are showcasing that you can handle them being
vulnerable to you and they are more likely to open up to you.
Seek Professional Help
If the above tips haven’t helped you and your partner to a great extent, don’t
worry. There is always help. You and your partner can seek out a Relationship
Therapist
or attend Couples Counselling so that you can work through your issues with
the help of an expert.
Remember you and your partner are not alone in this journey. You have the
support of your loved ones and us. We are here to provide help and guidance in
any way possible!
How CoupleBees Can Help
Our platform, CoupleBees, is a blog designed to help you navigate through
issues like trauma that could be impacting your relationships. The platform is
maintained by Relationship Experts who have curated and reviewed the content
by reflecting on real-world scenarios. This is a platform where you can get
professional insights on ways to work through your trauma by developing
self-compassion, empathy, and resilience. We also provide a safe space for
those who want to hear from other couples and their experiences. Along with
this, our experts provide personalized advice in their therapy sessions, so
feel free to reach out to our experts for further help on being your best
self!