As we warn in our book,
Lost My Partner, sometimes people jump into dating and sex to erase the pain they’re feeling. They hope the excitement of a new relationship will make the pain go away. Dating for that reason can backfire. You aren’t being fair to a new relationship when you haven’t taken enough time to emotionally finish with the old one.
Please take the necessary time to go through the mourning process before you start dating.
That said, it’s natural to feel fairly anxious about engaging in sex. This can frequently be caused by:
- Guilt that crops up and gets in the way.
- Lack of sexual activity during your marriage.
- Issues of morality you might be wrestling with.
Try to keep in mind the following:
1. If you feel really anxious, you may just need more time. Give yourself permission to move at a pace that’s
right for you.
2. Remind yourself that each new person is a
learning process. You and your spouse/partner had years to work out what felt right for both of you. No two people react the same way sexually or otherwise.
3. The keys to a good sexual relationship are
trust and communication. It’s important to feel free to tell each other what you are and are not comfortable with. This includes being able to discuss the issue of taking precautions against sexually transmitted diseases (make sure you update your knowledge about this issue before engaging in sexual activities).
As we always suggest,
take your time and listen to yourself about what feels right for you.