“Intimacy is the freedom and acceptance to be yourself with that “one” person!
Psychologist Dr. Prerna Kohli
People always confuse sex with intimacy.
Only Sex isn’t intimacy. But Intimacy can be sex! Sex is physical attraction/intercourse between two individuals and needs to have an emotional bond to be intimate. Unfortunately, sex doesn’t guarantee intimacy. Sex is a part of intimacy and intimacy can be physical, emotional, sometimes intellectual and spiritual too.
So, the question exists, “Are sex and intimacy two different things?” “Can you have one without the other? Or does one lead to another?” Not everyone has similar thoughts; there are a lot of different opinions about it.
Intimacy is the heart of Sex
In an Intimate relationship, we allow the other person to enter into our heart, mind, body, and soul. Being intimate with your partner requires you to be open and honest with him or her, and it is from this state of intimacy when one enters a sexual activity.
Sex, within a relationship, is the most intimate act. When a couple is making love there isn’t just a physical act but also a deep connection with your partner which is intimate.
Intimacy without Sex
Sex is not the only way in which people give and receive love, so although it is very important, it is not the only way to create or express intimacy. In cases of medical issues like a lady who has given birth & is yet to heal or a person has undergone any surgery may not have sex, but still have an intimate relationship with the partner.
Intimacy is getting a simple morning hug from your partner, a non-sexual touch, a cheek kiss, enjoying each other’s company, having meaningful talks, caring for each other, laughing together for stupidest reasons, praising and motivating your loved one. It may not have Sex all the time.
Sex without Intimacy
Sex without intimacy is like food without hunger. Rape is Sex, without consent, an act that is paid for (prostitution) or even a one night stand may not be intimate. It’s just physical act with no emotions attached. But there can be a conflict that there is nothing more intimate than two people uniting and offering sex, therefore connecting, even in the case of a one-night stand.
A marriage can be more successful when both Sex and Intimacy are present. But with no intimacy and only sex would lead to a troubled marriage.
To learn more about Dr. Prerna Kohli click here
All images courtesy Pixabay
