

{"id":30757,"date":"2018-12-06T11:31:37","date_gmt":"2018-12-06T11:31:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/?p=30757"},"modified":"2023-04-06T11:23:04","modified_gmt":"2023-04-06T11:23:04","slug":"sex-after-divorce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/divorce\/sex-after-divorce\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Tips to Relieve Your Anxiety During Sex After Divorce"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72675\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/ways-to-help-rebuild-intimacy.jpg\" alt=\"Cute couple in a bedroom. Lady in a white t-shirt. Pair at home\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The post-divorce world can be both exciting and scary.<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &nbsp;<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exciting, because a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/divorce\/starting-a-new-relationship-post-divorce\/\">new chapter in your life is opening up<\/a>. &nbsp;Scary, because so much is strange and different in this new landscape. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You haven&rsquo;t had a first date in years, leave alone&nbsp;sex after divorce!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You are used to your partner, their body and their way of doing things. &nbsp;You cannot imagine taking your clothes off in front of a new person, being intimate with another person, being vulnerable to another person. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What if your body isn&rsquo;t up to standard? &nbsp;You aren&rsquo;t as young as you used to be&hellip;will they laugh? &nbsp;What about birth control, what&rsquo;s new on that scene? And STDs? &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>All these things you didn&rsquo;t have to worry about when married. &nbsp;Let&rsquo;s have a look at what sex after divorce might be like:<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1-You-might-feel-guilty-like-you-are-betraying-your-ex\"><\/span>1.&nbsp;You might feel guilty like you are betraying your ex<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h2><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-30759 size-full\" title=\"You might feel guilty, like you are betraying your ex\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/You-might-feel-guilty-like-you-are-betraying-your-ex.jpg\" alt=\"You might feel guilty, like you are betraying your ex\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if you were very much looking forward to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/things-to-consider-before-choosing-your-life-partner\/\">finding a new partner<\/a> and feeling the flush of a new desire, the first time you have sex after your divorce might leave you with feelings of guilt. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After all, you&rsquo;ve been with having married sex for years, with all that means- &nbsp;really knowing how to turn your partner on, what they like and don&rsquo;t like, and how to bring them to a sure climax. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here you are, naked and intimate with a brand new person, but thoughts of your old spouse may block part or all of your enjoyment. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sex after divorce comes with a string of fears. This is normal. &nbsp;It happens to a lot of people. Tell yourself that there is no need to feel guilty. You are no longer married, so this isn&rsquo;t considered cheating.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you find that you continue to feel guilty, this may be a sign that you are not ready just yet to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/physical-intimacy\/stages-of-physical-intimacy-in-a-new-relationship\/\">move forward sexually<\/a> with a new person. Sex after divorce seems a daunting prospect to you.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2-Feeling-wanted-and-desired-is-awesome\"><\/span>2.&nbsp;Feeling wanted and desired is awesome<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/physical-intimacy\/how-often-do-married-couples-have-sex\/\">married sex life<\/a> became ho-hum, boring, or downright non-existent prior to the divorce, starting to date, being flirted with, and being seduced is going to feel fantastic.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Suddenly new people are interested in you, they find you sexy and desirable and look at you in a way that your ex-hadn&rsquo;t for a long time. &nbsp;This will get your libido going like nothing else and make having sex after divorce an enjoyable prospect.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be careful and be honest with yourself. &nbsp;Enjoy all this attention but do what is necessary to stay safe physically and mentally. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Always practice safe sex<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is very easy for freshly-divorced people to fall prey to new partners who, knowing how vulnerable you may be, may take advantage of you in more ways than just sexually.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<pre><em><strong>Related Reading:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/separation\/making-a-stay-or-go-decision-about-your-marriage\/\">Are You Really Ready for Divorce? How to Find Out<\/a><\/em><\/pre>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3-First-sex-after-divorce-may-not-go-as-imagined\"><\/span>3. First sex after divorce may not go as imagined<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72408\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/stages-of-physical-intimacy-in-a-new-relationship-.jpg\" alt=\"Loving couple have fun at home. Pretty blonde in a white blouse.\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your first sexual experience after divorce may be very similar to your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/physical-intimacy\/\">first sexual experience<\/a> ever.&nbsp; First sex after divorce comes with its share of apprehensions for both male and female.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are male, you may have some erection difficulties due to the stress of a new partner and her sexual appetite. This may make you fearful that you will not be able to please her.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Her body will be different from what you are used to which may cause you to be anxious&mdash;will you know where everything is and what you need to do to turn her on? &nbsp;Or, rather than erection issues, you may have problems climaxing.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Again, guilt over sleeping with a new woman may inhibit your orgasmic response. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are female, during first-time sex after divorce, you may be sensitive to showing your body to a new man, fearful that it is not thin or firm enough, especially if you are middle-aged. &nbsp;You may not be able to orgasm the first time you have sex after divorce as you may be unable to relax and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/trust-your-partner\/\">trust your partner<\/a> enough to &ldquo;let go&rdquo; with him. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don&rsquo;t be disappointed if your first sexual experience doesn&rsquo;t go like you thought it would. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many things in your new life will take getting used to, and a new sexual partner and&nbsp;intimacy after divorce are just a few of those things.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&rsquo;s normal that your first sexual experience after divorce may feel weird. <\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It probably will feel strange, like you are a stranger in a strange land. &nbsp;And that is ok. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/communication\/start-sexual-communication\/\">pick a partner with whom you can talk about this<\/a>&mdash;someone who knows this is your first post-divorce experience and who will be sensitive to what this means to you.&nbsp; <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4-Take-it-slow-never-do-anything-you-aren%E2%80%99t-fully-consenting-to\"><\/span>4. Take it slow, never do anything you aren&rsquo;t fully consenting to<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h2><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-62584\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/not-having-enough-intimacy-and-sex.jpg\" alt=\"Sad Upset Couples Looking Away Conflict Concept In Relationship\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Again, we cannot stress enough the importance of picking the right partner for this new experience. &nbsp;You may need to take things slowly, with a lot of foreplay, communication, and slow stages of heating up. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Having sex after divorce first time?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure your partner understands this so they don&rsquo;t go full-on locomotive with your body. &nbsp;You&rsquo;ll want to be with someone with whom you can say &ldquo;stop&rdquo; at any time, and be sure they will heed your request.&nbsp; <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5-Don%E2%80%99t-use-sex-to-fill-up-the-void\"><\/span>5.&nbsp;Don&rsquo;t use sex to fill up the void<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<blockquote><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With divorce comes a certain degree of loneliness.<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>So, how to restart your sex life after a divorce?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people will act out sexually just to fill that void. &nbsp;The problem with that is that once the act is over, you are still lonely and may just even feel worse. &nbsp;Instead of having lots of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/physical-intimacy\/\">casual sex<\/a>, because now you can, why not do something else to combat the loneliness? &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the best sex after divorce tips is to practice a new sport, preferably one in a group setting, or participate in community service. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are healthier ways to engage in your new life while you are still processing what it means to be divorced. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No one is saying that casual sex is bad (only you can make that call), but there are some more-productive ways to enhance your self-esteem and rebuild your sense of self-worth, all while benefitting your physical and emotional connection with your soul. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After divorce sex can be frightening, exciting and fulfiling &ndash; all at once. So, you need to navigate the unchartered territory with some caution in mind to shape your sex life after divorce. Follow the post-divorce intimacy tips and before you know you will be the master of this domain, exploring your sexuality in ways unknown to you before!<\/span><\/p>\n<pre><em><strong>Related Reading:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/divorce\/ways-to-handle-and-cope-with-divorce\/\">8 Effective Ways to Handle and Cope with Divorce<\/a><\/em><\/pre>\n","protected":false,"raw":""},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The post-divorce world can be both exciting and scary. &nbsp; Exciting, because a new chapter in your life is opening up. &nbsp;Scary, because so much is strange and different in this new landscape. &nbsp; You haven&rsquo;t had a first date in years, leave alone&nbsp;sex after divorce! You are used to your partner, their body and their way of doing things. &nbsp;You cannot imagine taking your clothes off in front of a new person, being intimate with another person, being vulnerable to another person. &nbsp;&nbsp; What if your body isn&rsquo;t up to standard? &nbsp;You aren&rsquo;t as young as you used to <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":675,"featured_media":72675,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[31],"tags":[2525],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30757"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/675"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30757"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30757\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":85170,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30757\/revisions\/85170"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72675"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30757"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30757"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30757"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}