Is it normal my boyfriend thinks i am bad in bed?

My boyfriend and I had a filthy sex life at the beginning of our relationship, but once we moved in together, sex slipped down the agenda and has gotten boring. My boyfriend has been having problems with inability to keep an erection, and after months of things sometimes being fine but often not being, he admitted that he is bored and there are certain things he would like me to do in bed that I don't do. This is all fine and fair enough, things have got very repetitive and there is a lack of sexual tension between us. I know he still finds me physically attractive and I'd be happy to spice things up, I think it's normal for things to get stale in a LTR.

But it's a bit more complicated than that. I have a long history of sexual abuse in my past, and I basically switch off and become anxious when we are about to have sex. I have never told him this (although he knows about the abuse) and I think the reason our sex life was so much better in the beginning is because there was no intimacy, so I was able to just "pretend" and honestly, it worked much better for both of us. But basically I do not experience sexual arousal and cannot feel sexual intimacy. I can't even look him in the eye when we are having sex without feeling ashamed and like I am repulsive.

I also have absolutely no idea how to turn a guy on beyond being naked and being there. My boyfriend would like me to tease him sexually, maybe give him a striptease, flirt with him and do foreplay, normal things - which I feel physically incapable of doing and I am terrified because I want to be able to satisfy him, I want to have a normal, fulfilling sex life, we are so in love. But I have no idea how to seduce him and because I don't stay in my body enough during foreplay to get turned on I feel stupid and humiliated doing dirty talk or acting like I'm sexy or anything.

I feel so sad and devastated that I'm not able to give my partner what he needs - or to enjoy my own sexuality. Weird as it might sound, I am a very sexual person and I have a high sex drive...but when it comes to actually acting on it, I'm an awkward, terrified mess. I thought I had done a good job of covering it but apparently I have not.

I realise this isn't necessarily the best place to get sound, measured advice but I can't talk to any of my friends about it, it feels too shameful. I hope someone out there has some tips or advice for me on how to overcome this, or even practical sex tips.

Is It Normal?
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Comments ( 18 ) Sort: best | oldest
  • This is quite common in sexual abuse survivors until they actually deal with it via professional therapy. I used to "go away" and not know I'd had orgasms: how weird is that? But I could act as if I was having a great time, which my body was, but my emotions couldn't deal with actually being fully there during sex.

    PLEASE see someone for professional therapy ASAP: from my personal experience, the longer you put it off the harder it will be to deal with. And I know this will be hard, but you need to be honest with your partner about it: this will be easier if you've taken the first step of calling an anonymous crisis line for support and referral to an appropriate counsellor.

    I wish you everything good: I know how hard this issue is to deal with but it is worth it - it won't go away by itself, I'm afraid

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  • There are some really insensitive comments here. Firstly, I'm sorry to hear about what you went through. Secondly, sex is only one part of a relationship. Important as it is, there are more important things, such as communication. You say you haven't discussed this with your partner. I think you should, precisely because it's having such an impact.

    I agree that you should consider therapy. Personally, I'm a bit wary about the 'cult of abuse' that exists in our current culture, with semi-skilled therapists doing more to aggravate and perpetuate the effects of the abuse (or even create trauma that wasn't there), so I would advise treading carefully and remaining critical. It's a profession full of charlatans. I would also be wary of any approach that seeks to tackle your 'performance anxiety' first and foremost, as this would seem merely palliative. You need to get to the heart of the matter with competent help and your partner's support.

    Lastly, I would say this: much as you want to please your partner, sex isn't just about pleasing people. It's an expression of mutual desire or affection, or even love. And expression isn't about playing roles, unless those roles are a genuine extension of your personality. If you don't feel comfortable with something, you don't have to do it. Not every man wants a porn star in the bedroom, by the way.

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  • Get drunk beforehand to loosen up. Sure, you might turn into an alcoholic, but there is also a chance that you will turn into the cookie monster

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  • I only read the start of these replies obviously written by inexperienced people, please don't take them seriously and maybe look elsewhere for help. This site is full of morons.

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    • I meant to say fretting over it will certainly make it worse so try to keep things in perspective . You probably need tm talk to a professional about your abuse and your psychological state which is the way it is because of that abuse
      I feel for you , good luck and all the best.

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      • Yep, if OP wants to change this there's no way she can do so without professional therapy to deal with the abuse AND just as important, honesty with her partner about how her past is affecting her.

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  • I think its important to communicate with your boyfriend about everything you've said here.
    It will feel good to him to hear he is not the cause of you not getting aroused, because he is already aware. It isn't something anyone can hide convincingly. As for practical sex tips, I know he is a comedian but I think patrice oneal put it best, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4S2tgih3Zs

    and then of course he is probably the one to communicate with, but I would tell him what you like as well, so he doesn't feel like you are just asking to be nice

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  • No guy wants to have sex with a plank. Maybe you're broken and irredeemable and hopeless, but on the chance you aren't: the key part of interacting is 'acting'.

    Do some research, put in the effort and start acting like you're great in bed. And eventually, you will be.

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    • That's a really insensitive response to the OP.

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    • Rubbish: when women act in bed, which is exactly what OP has been doing, it leads to less intimacy and more distance and boredom. You don't know what you're talking about

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  • The Bible states clearly that you must submit to your husband. You must do as he says and satisfy his needs.

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  • 2 things first for the teasing second the intimacy issue.

    For teasing, seriously imitate porn, watch, learn, imitate.

    For intimacy, get either naked or in some lingerie, then lay down in your boyfriends arms and cuddle. If this escalates to sex the first time, then good, if not then that's fine too.
    While cuddling there are several things to do but Above All, MAINTAIN CONSTANT EYE CONTACT. The power of eye contact can never be underestimated. While cuddleing rub your hands all over each other, embrace each other, and maintain eye contact. This will make you feel much more comfortable.
    If you are comfortable at this point, you can begin escalating, have your boyfriend play with your nipples and rub your pussy, show him your interest by actually grabbing his hands and move them into position.
    Then tease him, rub your leg across his groin, kiss his neck.
    If your comfortable going further, have him finger you till you orgasm, make sure you maintain eye contact when you orgasm, this should make you feel more connected to him, and aroused.
    At this point if you're ready have sex, again maintain eye contact, you can try more creative positions once you have more intimacy.

    I hope this helps.

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    • You don't get it either: the problem here is not what's happening physically but her emotional issues resulting from abuse.

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      • I know they are emotional, I thought slowly trying to build intimacy, would help her work through the issues.
        Instead of just rushing into sex, cuddling with her partner and staring into each other's eyes should help some at least.

        Though these are just my opinions, I'm not a professional.

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  • Obviously , you dont know how to manipulate the cock and nuts if he thinks you suck in the sack.
    Do you know how to suck cock and stick your tongue in the male pee hole and suck the shaft and tod ?
    Do you take the cock all the way up your shit pipe to the hilt until he rips you a new one and then do you suck the dirty cock when it comes out of your poop chute and lick it clean ?

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  • Go straight for the balls with dat mouth. Get a whiff of that good man stink. That'll turn him on. You could try dominating him, talking dirty, just try new things

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    • So I'm guessing you didn't read the whole post (tbf it's super long) but the problem is I have been sexually abused in the past and I have such low self esteem and sexual shame that I have NO IDEA how to do those things. I'm open to them I just don't know how because I've never been in a normal sexual relationship. My idea of foreplay is basically kissing him or sucking him off and i think he'd like things to be a bit less mechanical and routine? I'd really appreciate practical tips!

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      • I did read but i guess i didn't get it. Okay then uhh what I've done with my previous boyfriends is after they've gotten me revved up by touching me all over and kissing me etc. I shove them down onto the bed and straddle them so my ass cheeks are rubbing his member, slowly go up and down to give them access to my hole and rub his tip around there a bit (this is so weird to describe, never thought of how itd sound) while kissing/licking/sucking different areas of his neck. After a while i start kissing them all the way down, clavicle to sternum to belly (usually go slower there for some reason people like that I've noticed but I'm into plus size guys so idk if that applies) to crotch and then i usually take a good whiff (really turns them on) and start licking on those balls. Anyway i hope that helps? Haha

        If i were you I'd start reading erotica in order to come up with a game plan for your next sexual encounter. From the woman's or bottoms' perspective would probably be more helpful

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