Sexual Frustration: Is It Only About Lack of Sexual Activities?
Sexual frustration is a condition wherein there is an imbalance between sexual needs and their fulfillment. However, it is not solely about sexual activities, it could also mean dwindled emotional connection with your partner. Sexual frustration can lead to agitation, anxiety, stress, and irritation among people due to their unmet sexual needs and desires. While many believe that the condition occurs in people with high-sex drive, it must be noted that most people feel sexually frustrated regardless of their sex drive at some point in their lives for different reasons. Sexual frustration is completely normal and not something to be afraid or ashamed of.
What exactly is Sexual Frustration?
Marla Renee Stewart, a sexologist and a sexpert, said that frustration takes place when one has certain expectations around sex and those expectations are not fulfilled. Sex is a broad topic. The needs concerning sex can differ vastly from one person to another even though they share a loving relationship. It can be one of the reasons why sexual frustration tends to occur in most people’s lives.
Sexual needs, also tend to evolve when one is in a long-term and stable relationship. As per a German study, when a woman enters a stable relationship her sex drive tends to drop. After four years in a stable relationship, only half of them wanted regular sex. Moreover, after 20 years, only 20% of them wanted regular sex. However, on the other hand, 90% of women wanted more tenderness and emotional connection from their partners, while only 25% of men craved the same from their partners. The gap between sexual needs and emotional needs can be a major reason for males and females to feel sexually frustrated.
Apart from being sexually unfulfilled, it can also be a result of “general existential frustration.” The things that are nowhere related to sex like work stress or personal stress can also lead to sexual frustration, as they may directly or indirectly impact the sexual life and its frequency.
Impacts of Sexual Frustration
Although the condition is not an official condition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), it can have detrimental effects on a relationship as well as a person’s health. A study by the Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice, The University of Alabama, indicated that sexual frustration can lead to an increase in the risks of aggression, violence, and crime, due to the agitation, irritation, and anxiety concerning the subject. Not being able to fulfill the sexual needs can furthermore result in poor mental and physical health of a person. In addition, dissatisfied sexual needs pose threat to society as well, as it might lead a person to engage in inappropriate sexual activities (even including sexual violence like rapes), which might result in STDs or unwanted pregnancies.
How to Deal with Sexual Frustration?
It is normal to feel sexually frustrated. However, not being vocal about the feeling can negatively impact your relationship and health. One of the best ways to deal with the situation is by conversing with your partner about your sexual needs. It is crucial to open up with your partners rather than suppressing your emotions. If left untreated, it can furthermore lead to frustration and irritation among the partners. It can also ruin your relationship. While talking to your partner, you must not be accusatory or blame them for anything. Instead, try conversing about your emotions and sexual needs in the relationship.
In the beginning stage of experiencing sexual frustration, masturbation can help alleviate the symptoms. Nevertheless, it might not help much at a later stage. Furthermore, exercising and meditation can also help with the problem by releasing pent-up energy. Try activities that might help you rekindle both the emotional and physical connection of your relationship. If you are facing excessive tensions in your personal life and your relationship due to sexual frustration, you might as well prefer getting assistance from a relationship counselor.
How do you cope with sexual frustration? Let us know in the comment section below.
