ERP 444: A Major Block To Sexual Desire and Sexual Intimacy In Long-Term Relationship — An Interview With Irene Fehr

Have you ever felt that your sensitivities in a relationship are misunderstood or undervalued? Are you struggling with maintaining sexual desire in a long-term relationship, particularly amidst the chaos and demands of daily life?

Often, highly sensitive individuals find it challenging to balance their emotional and physical needs, leading to a decline in intimacy and connection over time. Understanding and addressing these unique sensitivities are essential for nurturing a fulfilling and passionate relationship.

In this episode, we delve into the intricacies of how highly sensitive people interact with intimacy and sexuality. We explore various models of sexual desire, emphasize the importance of context and emotional connection, and offer practical solutions for managing overstimulation. With insights on daily practices, de-armoring needs, and creating intentional connection time, this episode provides a holistic approach to reviving sexual desire and intimacy in long-term relationships, ultimately fostering deeper emotional bonds and mutual understanding.

Irene Fehr is a Sex & Intimacy Coach and a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner who helps couples make love & sex work in a long-term relationship and bring sex and passion into sexless ones. Weaving together somatic coaching, mindfulness, emotional communication work, and experience with the dynamics of highly sensitive women's sexual desire in a long-term relationship, Irene has developed and successfully applied her holistic "Connection Sex" framework to turn her client’s relationships around toward more passion, connection, and love.

Check out the transcript of this episode on Dr. Jessica Higgin's website. In this episode

7:24 Irene Fehr’s personal journey and insights on highly sensitive people.

09:25 Understanding overstimulation and emotional disconnect in relationships.

13:19 Exploring the differences in sexual desire: Spontaneous vs. Responsive models and the role of high sensitivity.

23:21 How high sensitivity impacts male sexual desire and performance in relationships.

28:31 The importance of creating space for highly sensitive individuals in relationships, especially in sexual dynamics.

38:49 The importance of emotional and physical de-armoring for intimacy in Long-term relationships.

45:21 Balancing sexual desire in relationships: Overcoming expectations and building daily connection.

Mentioned

Come As You Are: Revised and Updated: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book)

The Highly Sensitive Person Test

ERP 211: How to Get Rid of Shame to Increase Pleasure in the Bedroom – An Interview with Ian Ferguson

ERP 257: A New Paradigm for Understanding True Sexual Connection and Intimacy – An Interview with