Just consider how sexualised you become when you get away for a weekend. Apparently, most couples when away from the everyday pressures enjoy a much more pronounced sexual engagement when away from home. This is partly because of greater opportunity with less mundane things to do, but also because you both can relax more having been removed from the everyday demands that shout so loudly.
Firstly, the multi tasking voices have to be soothed. It’s no good just pretending that all is well, when you have concerns on your mind. I’m not suggesting that you have to get everything fixed in your life before you can become “interested”, but for anxious souls this is important.
I have divided the inner voices into three categories. The outer world, the family, and the inner world. The outer world might be unresolved issues at work, issues to do with relationships outside of the home. Perhaps feelings of self worth to do with status or external achievements.
You might feel intensely that you deserve that promotion, but until you are recognized for being the brilliant person that you are, you can’t just have your life on hold. The family are voices to do with the neediness of your children, parents, and husband, and finally the inner voices are tied up with how you might feel about yourself, your weight, your wardrobe and general attractiveness.
Now clearly, no one can possibly get all these issues looking happy all at the same time, plus many of these areas are outside of your control. What we are looking at here is general principles which will help to soothe the busy brain to be able to relax into sensual feelings.
Firstly, scene and the atmosphere.
Why not make your bedroom a sort of private intimate area with candles, cushions and such.
He may not even notice, but you will. This sends him a message which sounds like, “I’m preparing for intimacy”. If you have children in the house, and you havn’t already, get a lock on your bedroom door.
Secondly, get a notebook.
Normally half the things you are retaining in your brain are things which are not creating anxiety as such, they are just draining your resources as you attempt to not forget, maybe Jimmy’s orthodontic appointment or that birthday card for your friend. Well, just write down a list of things you are carrying round in your head, then guess what, you don’t have to carry them round anymore. This frees your brain to stop multi tasking and get focused on “other things”.
Thirdly, for anxiety producing things that you can’t do anything about …
… talk them over with a friend or your husband, if you are spiritual pray together. This may seem really awkward at first – but give it a try.
Often just rehearsing the issue will help you to de-escalate it from “important” to sort of “in process”.
This is really crucial because not everything is resolvable, so you have to find a way to park the anxiety in a good well lit car park, so that you can revisit it when you are able. Your brain will find it objectionable if you try to just forget about a problem, so parking it in an accessible place can really help.
Finally, make sure your not angry with your husband. Your brain cannot let you become turned on with the same person that you are angry or upset with. You have to keep short accounts.