{"id":40449,"date":"2023-05-24T06:57:21","date_gmt":"2023-05-24T04:57:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lelo.com\/blog\/?p=40449"},"modified":"2026-02-18T05:56:59","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T04:56:59","slug":"emotional-blocks-in-sexual-pleasure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lelo.com\/blog\/emotional-blocks-in-sexual-pleasure\/","title":{"rendered":"Emotional Blocks in Sexual Pleasure"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"lelo<\/a><\/p>\n

You\u2019re really into a new romantic or sexual partner. They make you feel lit up, seen, supported, and you also happen to think they\u2019re super cute. You start to kiss and it feels right, you feel arousal building, everything feels hot and sexy, but then you just seem to\u2026 tap out.<\/span><\/p>\n

You like them, you\u2019re attracted to them, and you want to have sex with them, but when it comes down to it you\u2019re not able to feel the pleasure you want to experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you relate to this scenario?<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just when dating someone new, there are endless situations where you can feel blocked off from your sexual pleasure. While some physical conditions can cause this, a lot of the time it comes down to emotions. How do your emotions create blocks to your sexual pleasure \u2013\u00a0and how do you break them down?<\/span><\/p>\n

Stress and Your Sex Life<\/b><\/h2>\n

We\u2019re well aware that stress can be detrimental to your health. It can also put quite a damper on your sex life. We get it, life happens, but if you want to experience the sexual pleasure you crave and deserve, you need to examine the way stress and the emotions it causes impacts your intimate relationships.<\/span><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need science to tell you since you\u2019ve probably experienced it for yourself, but <\/span>high levels of chronic stress<\/span><\/a> were found to be correlated with lower genital sexual arousal. Essentially, stress makes it more difficult to feel sexual pleasure in your genitals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stress isn\u2019t necessarily an emotion, it\u2019s more of a physiological state that directly affects your mental health, and thus your emotions. Stress can make you feel depleted, distanced, irritable, and a whole lot of other emotions that can keep you from fully enjoying your sex life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sex and Trauma<\/b><\/h2>\n

Trauma is a broad term that can be emotional or physical (like from an injury). When you get an injury, your body creates scar tissue as a way of healing and protecting that body part from getting hurt again.<\/span><\/p>\n

That scar tissue is a necessary part of the healing process, but can then create more issues like aches and pains in the body. Physical scar tissue can impact your sex life if it\u2019s in your <\/span>pelvic floor<\/span><\/a> for example after someone gives birth, but trauma also creates emotional scars.<\/span><\/p>\n

When you go through something difficult in your life, something that you considered traumatic, you build up this metaphorical scar tissue to protect yourself. In an effort to protect yourself this sometimes also keeps you from letting things in. Like deep connection with others or sexual pleasure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This can happen whether you\u2019ve experienced sexual trauma, abuse, or even seemingly unrelated things like an accident. One study found that <\/span>people with PTSD had a significantly lower sexual function<\/span><\/a> in terms of sexual satisfaction, sexual pain, and sexual aversion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Holding Back in Relationships<\/b><\/h2>\n

When you don\u2019t feel comfortable, safe, or fully trust the person you\u2019re having sex with, there\u2019s a part of you that tends to hold back. This can happen with people you just met or have been with for years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a bit woo-woo, but when you hold back, whether or not you\u2019re conscious of it, you\u2019re not able to be fully present with the people in your life. This can affect your relationships, and especially your sex life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the reasons we hold back in relationships come from:<\/span><\/p>\n