Survive and Thrive: How to Overcome an Intimacy Famine

In today's fast-paced world, it’s easy for couples to find themselves in an intimacy famine. The demands of work, technology, and other distractions often leave little time for nurturing deep connections and maintaining a satisfying level of closeness. However, with a little effort and the right tactics, it is possible to not only survive but thrive in an intimacy famine.

Defining the Intimacy Famine

An intimacy famine refers to a period in a relationship where the emotional or physical connection between partners diminishes to a significant extent. Whether it is due to stress, lack of communication, or external pressures, an intimacy famine can cause emotional distress and strain the bond between partners.

Recognizing the Signs

The first step in surviving an intimacy famine is recognizing the signs. Often, it begins with a decrease in affectionate gestures, such as hugs, kisses, or holding hands. Communication may become surface-level, lacking depth and emotional connection. A sense of emotional distance and detachment slowly creeps into the relationship, leaving both partners unfulfilled and disconnected.

Out of Touch: How to Survive an Intimacy Famine

by Michelle Drouin(Kindle Edition)

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	568 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	283 pages
Paperback	:	72 pages
Item Weight	:	7 ounces
Dimensions	:	8.5 x 0.17 x 8.5 inches
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled

FREE

Reconnecting With Your Partner

To survive an intimacy famine, it is crucial to reconnect with your partner and rekindle the spark that brought you together in the first place. Here are some effective strategies:

1. Open and Honest Communication

Communication is the foundation of any successful relationship. Take the time to express your feelings, desires, and concerns openly with your partner. Create a safe and non-judgmental space to encourage open dialogue and active listening. Honest communication fosters understanding and paves the way for intimacy to flourish.

2. Quality Time Together

Make a deliberate effort to spend quality time together, free from distractions. Set aside dedicated moments to connect with your partner, such as date nights or weekend getaways. Unplug from the digital world and focus solely on each other. Engage in meaningful conversations, participate in shared activities, and create lasting memories.

3. Foster Physical Intimacy

Physical intimacy is a powerful bonding tool. It helps couples feel connected, desired, and loved. Explore new ways of expressing physical affection, such as cuddling, massaging, or trying new experiences together. Discuss your desires and boundaries, and aim to create a safe and consensual environment where both partners can explore their needs and desires.

4. Prioritize Emotional Connection

True intimacy goes beyond the physical realm. Cultivate emotional connection by showing empathy, support, and understanding towards your partner. Take the time to understand their perspective, validate their emotions, and be present in their lives. Emotional vulnerability deepens the bond and creates a strong foundation for a thriving relationship.

5. Seek Professional Help

If you're struggling to make progress on your own, don't hesitate to seek professional help. Relationship therapists or counselors can provide guidance, tools, and insights to overcome the challenges of an intimacy famine. They offer a neutral perspective and facilitate open communication between partners, helping you navigate difficult situations and find a path towards greater intimacy.

Embracing the Journey

Surviving an intimacy famine is not an overnight process. It requires dedication, effort, and patience from both partners. Embrace the journey and commit to nourishing your relationship. Celebrate small victories along the way, and remember that setbacks are normal. With perseverance and a shared commitment to growth, you can overcome an intimacy famine and create a deeper, more fulfilling connection.

In a world where intimacy can be easily neglected, it's crucial to take proactive steps to sustain and enhance your connection with your partner. Recognize the signs of an intimacy famine, and take action to reconnect and strengthen your bond. By prioritizing open communication, quality time, physical intimacy, emotional connection, and seeking professional help if needed, you can thrive even in the face of an intimacy famine. Embrace the journey and watch your relationship flourish.

Out of Touch: How to Survive an Intimacy Famine

by Michelle Drouin(Kindle Edition)

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	568 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	283 pages
Paperback	:	72 pages
Item Weight	:	7 ounces
Dimensions	:	8.5 x 0.17 x 8.5 inches
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled

FREE

A behavioral scientist explores love, belongingness, and fulfillment, focusing on how modern technology can both help and hinder our need to connect.

Millions of people around the world are not getting the physical, emotional, and intellectual intimacy they crave. Through the wonders of modern technology, we are connecting with more people more often than ever before, but are these connections what we long for? Pandemic isolation has made us even more alone. In Out of Touch, professor of psychology Michelle Drouin investigates what she calls our intimacy famine, exploring love, belongingness, and fulfillment and considering why relationships carried out on technological platforms may leave us starving for physical connection. Drouin puts it this way: when most of our interactions are through social media, we are taking tiny hits of dopamine rather than the huge shots of oxytocin that an intimate in-person relationship would provide.
 
Drouin explains that intimacy is not just sex—although of course sex is an important part of intimacy. But how important? Drouin reports on surveys that millennials (perhaps distracted by constant Tinder-swiping) have less sex than previous generations. She discusses pandemic puppies, professional cuddlers, the importance of touch, "desire discrepancy" in marriage, and the value of friendships. Online dating, she suggests, might give users too many options; and the internet facilitates "infidelity-related behaviors." Some technological developments will help us develop and maintain intimate relationships—our phones, for example, can be bridges to emotional support. Some, on the other hand, might leave us out of touch. Drouin explores both of these possibilities.