#Sex Contributes

[kamini-vidrawan-ras]

The Role of Sex in Emotional Intimacy: How sex contributes to emotional bonding and intimacy in relationships

Sex plays a significant role in emotional intimacy and bonding within relationships. It is not just a physical act but a profound way through which partners connect on an emotional level. Here’s how sex contributes to emotional intimacy and bonding:

1. Physical Expression of Affection and Love

a. Non-Verbal Communication

Affectionate Touch: Sex allows partners to express love and affection through physical touch, which can reinforce feelings of closeness and connection.

Emotional Closeness: Physical intimacy often enhances emotional closeness, making partners feel more connected and understood.

b. Pleasure and Enjoyment

Shared Experiences: Enjoying sexual activity together creates shared experiences and memories, contributing to a sense of partnership and togetherness.

Positive Reinforcement: Positive sexual experiences can reinforce emotional bonds and improve overall relationship satisfaction.

2. Biological and Physiological Effects

a. Release of Oxytocin

Bonding Hormone: During sex, the body releases oxytocin, often referred to as the "love hormone" or "bonding hormone." Oxytocin promotes feelings of attachment and trust between partners.

Emotional Connection: Higher levels of oxytocin are associated with increased feelings of emotional connection and intimacy.

b. Endorphins and Dopamine

Pleasure and Happiness: Sex triggers the release of endorphins and dopamine, which contribute to feelings of pleasure and happiness. This chemical boost can strengthen emotional bonds and create a sense of well-being.

Stress Reduction: The release of these chemicals also helps reduce stress and anxiety, contributing to a more relaxed and emotionally secure relationship.

3. Emotional Vulnerability and Trust

a. Intimate Sharing

Personal Vulnerability: Engaging in sexual activity often involves a level of emotional vulnerability. Sharing this aspect of oneself with a partner can deepen trust and intimacy.

Acceptance and Understanding: Being open and honest about sexual desires and needs fosters greater understanding and acceptance between partners.

b. Building Trust

Reliability and Safety: Positive sexual experiences can enhance feelings of safety and reliability within the relationship. Trust developed through sexual intimacy can extend to other aspects of the partnership.

Support and Care: Sex can be an expression of care and support, reinforcing the emotional bond and making partners feel valued and cherished.

4. Enhancing Relationship Satisfaction

a. Emotional Bonding

Strengthening Connection: Regular sexual intimacy can strengthen the emotional bond between partners, enhancing relationship satisfaction and stability.

Mutual Fulfillment: Meeting each other’s sexual needs and desires can contribute to mutual satisfaction and reinforce the emotional connection.

b. Addressing Relationship Issues

Conflict Resolution: Healthy sexual intimacy can help address and resolve relationship conflicts by improving communication and emotional closeness.

Affectionate Behavior: Sex often encourages affectionate behavior and expressions of love, which can help maintain a positive emotional atmosphere in the relationship.

5. Communication and Intimacy

a. Open Dialogue

Expressing Needs and Desires: Open communication about sexual needs and desires fosters emotional intimacy by allowing partners to understand and meet each other’s needs.

Feedback and Adjustment: Discussing sexual experiences and preferences helps partners adjust and improve their intimate connection.

b. Emotional Support

Emotional Sharing: Sex can be a way to share and express deep emotions, contributing to a greater emotional connection and understanding.

Support and Comfort: Physical intimacy can provide comfort and reassurance, enhancing emotional support and stability in the relationship.

6. Intimacy Beyond Sex

a. Non-Sexual Intimacy

Emotional Bonding Activities: While sex is an important aspect of intimacy, other non-sexual activities, such as cuddling, talking, and spending quality time together, also contribute to emotional closeness.

Comprehensive Connection: A well-rounded approach to intimacy includes both sexual and non-sexual forms of connection, ensuring a deep and fulfilling emotional bond.

b. Balancing Intimacy

Holistic Approach: Balancing sexual intimacy with other forms of emotional connection helps create a well-rounded relationship where both partners feel valued and understood.

Adaptation to Changes: As relationships evolve, adapting to changes in sexual and emotional needs helps maintain a strong and supportive bond.

7. Cultural and Individual Differences

a. Personal Preferences

Varied Experiences: Different individuals and cultures have varying perspectives on the role of sex in emotional intimacy. Understanding and respecting these differences is crucial for maintaining a healthy relationship.

Personal Significance: The significance of sex in emotional bonding may vary based on personal values, experiences, and relationship dynamics.

b. Relationship Dynamics

Mutual Understanding: Partners need to communicate openly about their views on sex and emotional intimacy to ensure mutual understanding and alignment.

Cultural Context: Cultural beliefs and norms can influence how sex contributes to emotional intimacy. Recognizing and addressing these influences can help partners navigate their relationship effectively.

(Click here to know about- Kamini Vidrawan Ras)

Conclusion

Sex plays a vital role in emotional intimacy and bonding within relationships by fostering physical affection, enhancing trust, and contributing to overall relationship satisfaction. It involves a combination of biological, emotional, and psychological factors that strengthen the connection between partners. By understanding and nurturing the role of sex in emotional intimacy, couples can build and maintain a fulfilling and supportive relationship. Balancing sexual and non-sexual forms of intimacy, communicating openly, and respecting individual differences are key to deepening emotional bonds and ensuring a healthy, satisfying partnership.

[llavender]

Friendly reminder that VP Harris officiated the marriage of a gay couple in 2004, before a generation of voters was even born

She then opposed Proposition 8

This is someone who has consistently fought for the legal rights of the lgbt population, and she's running against a party that actively plans to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges

[notbecauseofvictories]

I've seen that "the immortal loses their loved one but not their loved one's family; what if the immortal stayed close, followed them down the generations?" post a dozen times, and I understand it's intended to be sweet---but every single time I see it, all I can think is that it's straight-up the beginning of a horror story.

[bandsandwristbands]

If I were Gaara i would also kiss myself in the mirror 🥵 Don't worry the mirror was just cleaned

[ianthedebonair]

What would Wei say? (🔞choices below the cut)

➡️"So can you make multiple copies of me here?"

➡️"How about you make a bunch of other Damiens?"

*Links above lead to gratuitous, self-indulgent smut. Definitely not safe for work.

Behold, the fruit of the bashful Chen poll. It was meant to be a single pinup-like illustration, but one thing led to another (and with valuable inspiration from @ladyshivs and @extreme-neutral), it ended up as another choose your own smut 😌😌.

(Also, reblogs are disabled on the linked posts. So, if you’re planning to, reblog this one instead 🫣)

[ranma0]

An asexual mood that I think would be relevant to Alastor (the one that might have messed up his friendship with Vox) is the sinking dread that happens when you realize that someone is sexually attracted to you

Like

One minute you're really vibing with someone, bantering and having a great little time, and then it hits you

Ah shit he's flirting with me

And then the whole vibe is fucked up. What are you supposed to do? Continue potentially leading them on? It's either that or simply stop having a good time with them, the dynamic of the conversation has to change

Tbh in a fandom where Alastor is generally portrayed as a sex positive ace, I think it would be refreshing to see this perspective. It's not even sex repulsion, just the dismay that comes from a relationship shifting on its axis in a way that you simply can't adjust to

[read-write-thrive]

platonic and romantic are not some sort of binary that relationships have to be divided into. they’re not even two ends of a linear spectrum. they’re fully just abstract concepts made up of culturally-dependant social behaviour and expectations that are continually forced upon people to reinforce religious, legal, and broader societal/cultural norms, often and repeatedly to the detriment of non-normative groups including, but not limited to, the queer community. and I am sick and tired of those norms being replicated in fucking fandom discourse, of all places

[afrsconp]

Last post on the episode, I promise.

I think Isaac really did love Nigel, but I also think Isaac's idea of a romantic relationship might be based on a fantasy, or an unrealistic ideal. Like he calls off the wedding after Pete's speech about Donna, but that was about the excitement of meeting someone new, not about a long-term relationship. There are ups and downs; it's not just a perfect fairytale all the time. And it takes work, you know? Work that we know Nigel was prepared to do, and had in fact been doing, when he revealed what Isaac's wedding present was going to be.

If the plan is to show us Isaac slowly falling (back) in love with Nigel as a person, and not just a fantasy, I'd be down with that. It would also be pretty satisfying to see him having another freak out about confessing a second time - especially if at that point he's no longer sure if Nigel feels the same way anymore.

One last thing: I've seen people hating on Nigel for not saying anything when he apparently always suspected that Isaac was moving too fast. (And I do mean hate, like people calling him abusive and stuff, not just mild dislike.) But the reason seems pretty obvious to me? Nigel was (is) in love. He may not have expected Isaac to propose so soon, but Nigel wanted to marry the guy, so - he said yes when he was asked. Just because he's been with a lot of people doesn't necessarily mean he's any wiser about relationships than Isaac is.

[backpackingspace]

Okay but consider post Canon over protective Athena who is sick to death of her most devout being raped.

Athena sticking close to the whole family and promising penelope that she'll keep a close eye on odysseus the first time he has to go into the market and penelope can't go with him. (She was going to go anyway. She's never actually going to let any of them out of her sight ever again. And it's an easy promise to her dearest weaver who seems so distressed to have odysseus leaving her side.)

Athena fully manifesting in the market when someone grabs odysseus with godly flashes of snakes and owls and the drums of war to scream /release him/ (odysseus is feeling indulgent for both his patron and his wife it's so cute that they're this worried it's not like he couldn't defend himself just fine. Especially from whatever poor fuck just grabbed him who definitely doesn't deserve a goddess screaming in his face. Hes trying so hard not to laugh if he did athena would send him flying.)

Athena telling all the other gods that yes she knows odysseus is the favorite barbie doll she choose him well after all and to back the fuck off if any of them bother him again they will have made an enemy of her.

Athena disguising odysseus only as an old beggar from here on out instead of an irresistibly tall and handsome man. Because she saw how uncomfortable nausicaa's attention made him.

[winepresswrath]

Darla/Angelus is also great because the show has a competing designated OTP and they exist to serve as contrast and hateful competition to THE ship. they are soulless monsters even by the standards of soulless monsters, they literally make the other soulless monsters go "yikes... your relationship seems not good maybe." but they love each other so fucking much. the writers can't help it. they are constantly trying to find their way back to each other. the way she hits him over a head with a shovel and leaves him to an angry mob while he tries to say he doesn't mind dying if it's with her AND the way they coo about it to each other afterwards. the way she takes him back against her better judgement because she missed him so so much but then kicks him out again later because he still can't be who she needs him to be. that's just how they say i love you.

[guardian-angle22]

I don’t think it’s appreciated enough just how good TK must be at sex. I mean, after their hook-up Carlos is just laying on that uncomfortable looking couch basking...

TK literally sexed him stupid because when TK brushes off Carlos’ attempts at round 2 with some obvious, weak ass excuses... this man just stares at TK’s ass, nods, and smiles.

... like yep, uh huh, whatever you say... and then when TK runs out the door as if there’s a house on fire he needs to get to, Carlos barely notices, just.. “text me!”

don’t know what sex magic took place there but... TK is clearly cocky for a reason.

[thegreatimpersonator]

its genuinely so crazy how far up taylor’s ass some of you are. even a colonoscopy can’t get you out.

[realbeefman]

gregory house is the only person soggy and pathetic enough to be dommed by james “wet eyes” wilson

[jrueships]

men can and will talk abt wnba players' looks first and make it sound like they're models and not athletes, but immediately scrutinize and deride women for being fans of men's sports bcs they think they're only in it for the handsome looks and don't value a person's skill outside that, and that's a valid reason for alienating and rejecting their opinion because that's a bad thing to do objectively

[degenderates]

Aren't you a sex worker and exploiting your body for performances? You're part of the problem of why people think having "meaningless" sex is ok

First of all, I don't think you understood that post. If you're the author of the post, this statement still stands. I saw that a bunch of people in the notes immediately jumped to blaming sex workers (as per usual) and gestured toward the "commodification" of sex (which is somehow now sex workers' fault? Hmm. Very feminist to blame [mostly] women) but what this post was really getting at is that sex is something that is extremely vulnerable and intimate and therefore can be either emotionally enriching or emotionally taxing (or both). This is why some people choose to build up to sex with their partner, why single people might choose to have sex with their friends instead of going on a series of hookups, why sex workers have the potential to make a heck of a lot of money (and why swers that don't, like streetwalkers, should), why rape is often so much more traumatic than other forms of assault. Sex is both very physical and very emotional, even if people don't have an emotional attachment to the person they're having sex with, and to refute that is to refute how singular of an experience sex is, regardless of sexuality, as well as the fact that sex work is emotional work.

Secondly, sex not being a meaningless thing doesn't mean people shouldn't be able to choose to do it casually, do it for pay, do it in emotionally taxing ways. People still have bodily autonomy--they should just also be aware of how something like hookup culture can be draining or even traumatizing.

Thirdly, people who don't do sex work and don't know what it requires/don't know why someone would choose to do it/don't know what exploitation means sure have a lot to say about sex work. I hope you learned something here.

[wolfdeans]

Buck is for sure looking at those growth charts that compare the baby’s size to like fruit and then crying in the grocery store because EDDIE MELONS ARE SO SMALL I CAN HOLD ONE IN ONE HAND THE BABY IS SO SMALL HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO HOLD THE BABY and then he gets super protective of his bump and Eddie has to grocery shop on his own for a little while