Sex and Intimacy After Divorce

Even if you and your partner's sex life hit a slump toward the end of your marriage, it's a little distressing to realize that suddenly even the option of regular sex is not there anymore. For many people, this is a real blow to their self-esteem. They start to worry about all sorts of things: Will anyone else find me attractive? Maybe my partner didn't find me satisfactory in bed - will anybody else? What will it be like when I'm with somebody else? The last time I had to take my clothes off in front of a stranger was 10+ years ago - how is that going to feel now that I'm older?

One thing should be made clear upfront: Don't go there - yet! It's a smart idea to put the new relationship out of your mind during the early days of divorce. It's true that you'll never sleep with your spouse again, and you might miss the romantic moments you used to enjoy together, but it's counter-productive to worry about future relationships while you're still working your way out of the old one.