Register

I Live In a Sexless Marriage

Is This How She's Felt For The Past Ten Years?

By: TheWendigo
Written on June 29th, 2011
Age: 31-35 , Male
57,631 people have read this story

Your Response

By clicking "Post", you confirm that you agree to the Terms of Service of Experience Project, Inc.
494 responses
  • texonce

    I have thought this before but cannot grasp it... it sux too much... but I think my husband simply has no desire for sex... man, I grew up believing thats all men wanted so I screwed up alot of years with him, waiting .. and here, some are happy w/sisterly love... this really sux!

    a week ago
    1 like
    • daytimefun914

      Yes it sucks. I got tired of waiting and filed. Best decision ever!

      2 days ago
      1 like
    • texonce

      I am very happy to hear that... And the best decision ever... Now I am jealous, confused, hopeful... R u havin fun in the daytime too :)... Hope so... Hope u get all u desire for being so brave!

      1 day ago
      1 like
    • daytimefun914

      It was a hard and brave decision...
      i'm having fun day and night time :)
      If you want to chat - add me and let's chat about the experience.

      1 day ago
      2 likes
  • Seafarer1

    So that's why my wife doesn't want to have sex with me or be affectionate, I'm sick of rejection. The only reason I have lasted this long is for my two boys who I love dearly, but I can't stand this much longer, truly can't, it's like I'm alone so I may as well be alone, now to get the funds together to leave and get set up somewhere else. Enough is enough, this relationship makes me sad.

    May 4
    1 like
  • neuilly

    exactly......
    My spouse does not love me. When that realization finally hit me, because I was where you are now. I was no longer interested or in love with him. All of a sudden I was reminded of one of our members here...anar christian... who always responded to all of our posts in one way. No matter what the circumstances were.... Anar Christain"s response was always...
    "your spouse doesn't love you"...
    I would get so annoyed with that. And then when finally, I was where you are now, I understood. I realized that...damn... anar christain was right all along...It is a very hard to understand and accept, until your there. But, the reality is, that for your spouse to be that disinterested in being intimate, well there is a very valid reason for that. And that one reason, no longer being loved is HUGE. We are determined to deny that answer no matter what. It is a very hard realization for us to accept.
    yes, your spouse loves you, but not like a spouse......you are a close relative....nothing more. There is no desire or sexual attraction......so, I divorced.

    Apr 30
    1 like
  • Jwg444

    The last line is the tell all. She is in fact telling how she feels without having actually said it, for whatever reason. Once you realize this it hurts like ****, but it is also quite liberating to clearly know where you stand. Look closely at other aspects of your marriage-relationship and you will see it as well. I have been told directly on more than one occasion after trying to discuss our relationship, that all she wants from me is not want anything from her. I have been doing this dance for almost 15 years now simply because I could not be without my children in my life every day-and my wife knows this and plays this card well. Now the youngest is about to turn 18 and I am still young in body and soul, so I feel I am finally in the position I need to be in to have the conversations on level ground and make some changes.

    Jwg444

    Apr 21
    2 likes
  • lusrr1961

    My ex told me she never really liked sex she gave me all I wanted before we were married so I would marry her. 25 years later after being rejected by her more times than I can remember and being with more women than I can remember I finally met another woman feel in love and finally got the courage to leave. I stayed until the kids were grown. Our life was not bad we just lived for the kids sex between us became more and more distant.

    I am now married to another woman who truly does love me and does understand my love language. Not the woman I had the affair with.

    Apr 16
    1 like
  • daytimefun914

    I understand. Once I reached that point, I looked at my wife (now my ex-wife) and was no longer attracted. I used to be incredibly turned on by her, but then, like a light switch, it was over. She didn't want sex. I got the message. She no longer was attractive to me. My mind was elsewhere...I moved on mentally at that point. it took a few years before I decided to move on physically too. Best decision ever. Kids have adjusted. And she's no longer my problem!

    Apr 16
    1 like
  • krewtan333

    I am so glad to have stumbled upon this topic. I've spent quite some time reading many different stories for a 25 year old single male. It really intrigues me, and also helps me reaffirm what I'm looking for in marriage. Thank you all for all the stories and comments, and whatever your situation is, best of luck to you!

    Apr 13
    1 like
  • Telula

    I disagree with you....I love my husband dearly but physically, I don't need as much sex as he does. I realize now that this is the way men experience love (with sex) and so I give that to him out of love, but I don't think all women understand this. People tend to show love in the way that they like for love to be shown to them. Your wife may not experience sex as an act that is a DIRECT expression of emotional love. Maybe she has shown you love in other ways over the years, have you been paying attention to those things? I think it is important for her to learn the ways YOU NEED to be loved and fulfill those needs as your wife, but I do think there are a lot of women out there who just don't GET that and they end up losing their marriage over it and wondering why you never recognized how much love they did have for you. It's emotional ignorance, not a lack of love for you. Your wife probably just didn't fully grasp your need. But, don't discount her love for you based on that. Even though she never understood the importance of sex as an expression of love to you, does not mean that your marriage was completely loveless. We just need to understand each others languages of love better, sounds like the two of you may have just been speaking different languages all along, trying desperately to communicate your love for each other, and never understanding what the other was saying.

    Apr 12
    3 likes
    • keeper351

      Telula, I agree that my wife does all kinds of things to show her love but physical intimacy is much rarer that I would like. What she does not understand is I go into this black mood without sex. I recgonize it and try to fight it but it is so strong I can almost touch it. What I do not understand is why will she work all day long doing all kinds of things she does not enjoy so why is making love not one of them?

      6 days ago
      1 like
    • Telula

      I understand. My husband and I had a conversation a few months ago because he felt like he wasn't getting enough sex and I could tell it was really affecting him. At the time I was going through a major depression, and my lack of interest in sex was in no way any indication of a lack of love for him, but that is what he felt. He told me the same thing, that he gets depressed and feels unloved without it. Since then I read a REALLY good article written by a man on how husbands relate sex to love, and even equate sex to love. I have looked for it to send to you so your wife can read it but I can't find it now. I'll keep looking. But it helped me to understand his need on a much deeper level. As your wife, she does need to step up to the plate and understand this is a need that you have, not just a physical one, but an emotional and spiritual one as well. She may not assign very much meaning to sex because it doesn't mean the same thing to her, but you are now one unit and what matters to you should be also what matters to her because you are part of each other. This is not something that she understands right now and it sounds like you could benefit from some marriage counseling so that it becomes something she really understands. But take heart...it does not mean that she doesn't love you. I hope things will work out for you both and she is able to understand what her lack of affection is doing to you.

      6 days ago
      1 like
    • keeper351

      She fully understands me and my position on sex. We have had counseling and she always promises to get better ( and believes she has) but the only thing that has really changed is that I have quit fighting and complaining to her. She thinks things are better but I just don't voice my feelings like I used too. It is the only thing we ever fought over.

      6 days ago
      1 like
  • MrCompletly

    Menopause is her reason for a screeching stop to our sex. She said it's like a lightswitch. ( I thought she was talking about my ****) She feels that this is normal. I feel useless.

    Apr 12
    2 likes
  • EtoinShrdlu

    Thank you for this! I made a similar conscious decision about 2 years ago to stop initiating sex or discussions about it. Early on, my resentment was so deep that I kept hoping she would initiate sex just so I could turn her down (I know, kind of a childish and petty revenge scenario...). On the one occasion she initiated sex since then, I did not turn her down. However, I did not immediately fall into that emotional limbo of thinking "hey maybe things are going to turn around" and actually getting my hopes up.

    In a way, it has been very liberating. Although I do still find my wife VERY attractive, and have good memories of our former intimacy, I am beginning to arrive at that turning point you so aptly describe.

    Thanks again.

    Apr 4
    3 likes
  • mrpike

    OH MY! This is like a lightbulb over my head. You hit this one out of the park!!! How did I miss this post??? I need to print this and put it in my wife's face.....

    Apr 4
    3 likes
  • AlreadyExiled

    You know I never thought about it that way... I've started to feel that barrier between me and my partner forming from my side... I've never pestered him for anything because I'm afraid of the rejection.
    When we first got together, he wanted it all the time and he used to get really angry with me if I was unwell or on my period. Now he's the one who's not interested, like after the 1st month or two he was not interested. Now he uses excuses like "I'm too old" or "I don't think sex is important in a relationship" or "I'm to stressed to think about sex". He had sex with his exes and even had a relationship just based on sex not long before he met me. He still watches **** every chance he gets and doesn't mind if it's me just pleasuring him
    He always tells me **** like I'm attractive etc but if I'm so attractive to you, why don't you want to go near me? He told me a few weeks ago that when he hugs people (Incl me) he doesn't feel anything. I felt a wall drop between us. Now I feel weird on the rare occasions that we do hug. Shut down, like something in me died. I still love him as much as I always did but...
    Thankyou for the insight.

    Apr 4
    3 likes
    • Bo11

      I sure can feel your pain. My wife decided to stop having intimate relationships With me about the year ago. Same excuses Which is I'm not interested I'm too old I do stress tonight From work. I stopped before Christmas even Suggesting that we have some relationships as it made me feel depressed and rejected. I wish I had an answer for you because I am truly looking for one.

      Apr 4
      1 like
  • purecarnage01

    I know the feeling

    Mar 21
    1 like
  • pinkkarma

    Wow........., you just expressed that exactly how it is.

    Mar 21
    1 like
  • coexist1976

    So.....so true.....absolutely and totally the truth.

    Mar 14
    1 like
  • JustJennaJ

    Wow...somehow I was hoping to be wrong. Avoiding the truth doesn't get us anywhere. Thank you!

    Mar 14
    1 like
  • genevakhoza

    Wow!what an eye opener...thanks

    Feb 26
    1 like
  • daysleeper2

    Correct and yes

    Feb 18
    1 like
  • satishkmar

    yessssssssssssssssssssss

    Feb 18
    1 like
    • bazzar

      congratulations on your 10th consecutive idiotic post. Flagged.

      Feb 18
      1 like
  • satishkmar

    yes i interest to

    Feb 18
    1 like
  • satishkmar

    yesss

    Feb 18
    1 like
  • satishkmar

    iam yes

    Feb 18
    1 like
  • Juno44

    Every situation is differant and every relationship has its challenges. Sex is important but when two people have vastly differant libidos its not as simple as the partner who doesn't desire sex giving in to their partners needs. I tried. I would give my husband anything to try to ensure his happiness but after a while he felt I was only having sex for him and that was worse than no sex. Where do you go from there? I tried to "fake it" till I made it so to speak and he saw right through that. For those of you who are suggesting I don't love my husband enough if I don't desire sex with him are wrong. We've done counselling, I've also done counselling on my own but so far our differances in desire levels remain. Don't get me wrong we have sex, more frequently than some of those whose comments I have read here but not enough to truly forefill my husband. The sex continues to be as good as it ever was when we do (those are his words as well as mine) but teh frequency continues to cause us both to hurt.

    Feb 17
    2 likes
    • keyboardkats

      This is a medical problem. Lack of desire is probably hormonal. The partner with no libido needs to see a doctor. This can be helped immensely.

      Mar 12
      1 like
  • Kayla991

    At the end what does a person do.... I'm young 21 married... My sex life sucks my partner thinks its okai for a couple to have sex once every few months... But it's important to me... He knows this... I feel like its my fault but I don't know how it is... I'm cute I take care of myself I'm open to foreplay experimentation naughty lingerie... I feel hurt I feel not good enough and undesirable... Divorce came to my head but he is a good guy sweet kind and I feel like I'm being petty if I consider divorce but he's not making me happy and I don't know how long brushing it under the carpet n bottling it up I can take. Affairs Fwb, I don't really want to.... If he ever cheated on me jus the thought of it is like a cold piercing knife stabbing me in the heart it hurts too much... This relationship feels more and more like roommates living together... I jus don't know where I stand

    Feb 10
    1 like
  • FunPhan

    I think refusing to have sex with your spouse is a form of emotional abuse. It's cruel and heartless to be so self absorbed that you refuse to meet one of the most basic NEEDS of human interaction. Sexual encounters with your spouse isn't just a desire. It's a physical, emotional and spiritual NEED. On one hand you feed him or her good tasty food. You help to keep the house clean. You make sure they are healthy.You don't get in their way when they seek enjoyment in other areas yet you refuse to engage in sexual intimacy? What kind of "love" is that? Emotions can hurt us considerablly more than physical pain and, rejection is a kick in the stomach to the person being rejected. It's like a roundhouse kick to the side of the head. Why not just whack her or him across their face with a 2 x 4? It wouldn't hurt nearly as much as your constant rejection of his or her entire person and, that is what you are doing when you reject them sexually. You reject their entire person. Whether the refuser knows it or not, their emotional abuse is destroying the person they supposedly love.

    Feb 13
    3 likes
    • chdok

      I know exactly how you feel. However I am a female whose husband doesn't want sex. It is so hard to live with someone you love so much but not getting any emontional or physical interaction. We haven't had sex for about 5 years. I would be intimate with him everyday if he wanted to. For the past few years I've tried initiating and sometimes get what i want and many times am refused. So now I am so resentful that I've stopped trying at all. But I still would love for him to just come into bed and hold me or kiss me. It's amazing how much a person really needs human touch. I will leave one day. I'm too young to live the rest of my life in a sexless marriage.

      Feb 18
      1 like
    • FunPhan

      That is what happens after being rejected so many times. You stop trying. So sad. It just shouldn't be that way. There shouldn't need to be a big deal to get a married couple started. That said, as we get older, it does take a little more on the wife's part to get her husband going. Since men are more visually inclined lingerie helps a lot. Role playing also helps. SOMETHING out of the ordinary but not always. Just the fact that your spouse is available and willing is enough most times in a normal relationship.

      Mar 5
      1 like
  • Cheaters12

    I am just amazed by the crazy idea most of you can come up with to make your view look so logical. If this is the case that the refuser is not refusing you because they want to hurt you but they just do not have the feeling for you then why in most of the comments on this forum people are just trashing their StBX? Everyone applauds when a refused is hurting a refuser by either cheating or by just verbally trashing him/her.

    Feb 7
    4 likes
    • Cheaters12

      Some of you even say that the refuser is acting out of me. Actually what you are saying that the refuser was actually acting for you and not for me as he/ she was trying not to hurt you.

      Feb 7
      1 like
    • genguy

      @ Cheaters......What is your INTIMACY factor???? I am NOT talking about tab "A" going into slot "B" here....

      One of the MAIN problems I see on this forum is that NO ONE is intimate with their spouse...for WHATEVER reason...

      WITHOUT this crucial ingredient...there is NO marriage...

      Feb 10
      1 like
  • DancingFire

    This is exactly it. This is IT. She didn't tell you because likely she didn't enter into the marriage expecting to feel that way so she feels guilty, obligated, knows you love her and doesn't want to hurt YOU. This is absolutely the truth right here. Many refusers (I can't say all, since there are so many different stories out there), don't refuse out of malice towards their spouse... the chemistry just isn't there.

    Feb 7
    3 likes
    • lalaland4

      I want to like this 100 ******* times.
      Can we just acknowledge there's also a possibility that the "refuser" is just not that much into you? Not sexually any way. They cannot express themselves sexually with YOU, but they could with someone else. It's hard to face, and a terrible blow to the self-esteem so most refused people will always conclude their partners must be asexual, emotionally dead, evil or gay. And sometimes they are, but how about adding one more option to the list? The lack of sexual compatibility and chemistry is largely understated around here.You can like someone, care for them, feel good in their presence, enjoy cuddling, hold hands and be generally affectionate BUT you don't like or want to have sex with them.And you don't even have to be an evil *****/jerk to do that.

      Feb 8
      1 like
    • DancingFire

      Yes. Yes. Yes. 100%.

      Feb 8
      1 like
    • FunPhan

      I agree to the point, that if I was in a sexless relationship and knew my husband and me or my wife and me, were not sexually compatable, I would even allow just sexual encounters with another person that does turn them on. I would want to see it though....and maybe help. If you love someone, you would want to see them satisified in every way. Financially, emotionally, and physically. I just couldn't share her heart with another.

      Feb 17
      1 like
    • DancingFire

      I think you either make it work for you two or you let them go... watching? really? that's creepy... and by letting her/him have another you are indeed sharing their heart... and body. Sex shouldn't be heartless. I've experienced plenty of heartless sex. I don't recommend it

      Feb 17
      1 like
    • actionjake

      I agree with Miss fire above. There needs to be intimacy. Sharing the total package - you are sharing their heart.

      Watching ?.........I did get to read that post (yet). Damn, I know that belongs in some other category........Just not sure where. I could never do that.......I don’t like mirrors on the ceiling

      Feb 19
      1 like
    2 More Replies
  • hardtimes22

    I absolutely love your take on this issue, as I'm in a similar situation myself. I've begged, pleaded, beaten my head against the wall, considered affairs, divorce, castration.... In the end, one thought that has helped me these days is this; "you can't fight nature forever...". May you find strength and a happy future...

    Feb 6
    2 likes
  • morogoro

    So unfortunate what you are going through. I too can't figure out why that spark there was which lead to marriage has now dwindled. There physical chemistry, mental chemistry, spiritual chemistry, emotional chemistry which can be worked on for a happy union and both have to participate. At least you've made effort.

    Feb 4
    1 like
  • iahanbd

    We've been married 31 years. Sex was difficult at the onset. We now only engage in sex maybe once a year. It hurts. I want to believe that it is okay but it is not. I am bipolar and deal with a menagerie of other mental illnesses. Her response has been simple. She has let me know that she will be interested again when I start to improve mentally, become normal, and when the last of our five children leave the house (only two left). I want to believe this but this has been the signature response since day one. I really feel for her. I know how difficult it is to be attracted to somebody who struggles with mental illness. How? She has been quite open and honest about it. She literally tells me this. How bad do I want to be sexually intimate? I would be satisfied with a hug. But even a hug seems to be a timed thing: begin the hug but after a few seconds, I get pushed away. I feel so bad for her. Yet, is it being selfish just to want to be held? Counseling? No way. Just my expressing the idea makes her shudder. She claims that all she is looking for is for us to be "on the same page". I have now become numb to that statement. Even with all the family around, I feel alone - just drifting. The danger? I sometimes feel lost and wandering without a means to come back (literally losing my identity).
    Psychiatric help? I've been seeing a psychiatrist for over a decade. For him it has been a mind bender. Behavioral therapy and medication have just helped me to "maintain" not move forward. I am 54 now and I just want to be held by her and only her.
    Sex? I don't kid myself. I just want to be held. It is now 3:30am and I can't stop crying. This happens every other night. Caution. I'm not looking for the "stop playing the role of the sad sack" response to this statement. Just pulling up my boot straps approach has never worked.
    Thank you for letting me post.

    Jan 5
    3 likes

Your Response