One of the reasons a husband doesn’t want his partner anymore, according to a recent research, is income. It was found that male psychological distress reaches a minimum when the wives make 40% of total household income. The distress reaches at the highest level when men are entirely economically dependent on their wives. To find out the other reasons a husband no longer wants to be intimate with his spouse, we reached out to psychologist Jayant Sundaresan. He says, “Before we analyze the problems between the spouses, we need to find out how long they’ve been married to each other. Time frame makes a difference. If it’s been just a year or two, then it could simply be communication issues that they are facing. The longer the marriage, the more profound a problem could be.”
Why Does A Husband Not Want His Wife — 5 Probable Reasons
It’s an anxiety-inducing feeling when a husband doesn’t want his wife. Below are some of the signs your husband is steadily losing his interest in you:
He isn’t affectionate with you anymore He doesn’t share his feelings with you He stops being curious about your life Quality time has been ceasedYou no longer go out on dates
Jayant says, “If you are saying “My husband loves me but not sexually”, then you need to look at your marriage from a different perspective. How is your marriage as a whole? Is it just sexual intimacy which is lacking or are there any other stressors which are causing a disturbance to your sex life?” Before understanding how to deal with your husband not wanting you, let’s look at some probable reasons for this behavior.
1. Mental health issues/stress
What does it mean when your husband doesn’t want to touch you? It could simply mean he is dealing with anxiety, depression, stress, or any other mental health problems. As we age, we tend to develop health problems which hinder us from enjoying certain things in life. He could be experiencing the same thing. Depression is one of the leading factors for a reduced libido in men. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), about six million American men suffer from depression every year. A study on sexual dysfunctions in depressed men has proved that there is a decrease in sexual desire, problems in ejaculation, and in achieving orgasm when men have mental health issues.
2. Low self-esteem
Self-esteem is an essential key to loving yourself. When that goes for a toss, the general opinion a person has about oneself becomes questionable, which gives rise to insecurities. This can negatively impact your emotional well-being. When we asked Jayant for tips on how to deal with your husband not wanting you, he says, “Work on improving his self-esteem. “When a person has low self-esteem, they think they don’t deserve love. They think they are not worth their partner’s intimacy, especially of a person he is in love with. They think they are unattractive and remain consciously ignorant to their partner’s sexual invitations. This is one of the major reasons he is avoiding sex altogether.”
3. Performance anxiety
Sex is one of the most gratifying pleasures of a relationship. You are supposed to enjoy it freely, but many people go through performance anxiety before/during sex. If you constantly keep thinking about how well you should be doing sexually, it might lead to avoidance of sex. We’ve received messages from readers telling us: “My husband hasn’t touched me in years.” Then this could be the reason for it. When asked on Reddit about performance anxiety disrupting their sex life, a user shared their experience. They said, “I have been dealing with performance-related problems for years. It has been a very long road for me. I felt pathetic for a long time because I thought I was alone in the world.” Below are a few tips to reduce sexual performance anxiety, as shared by a user on Reddit.
Learn what your problem is and the reason behind itDon’t move forward if you aren’t comfortable Be honest and share your concern with your spouseIndulge in foreplay if you are having second thoughts about your performanceDon’t stress about it and take it easy, it’s more common than you think
4. Alcohol, drug usage, and pornography
Avoiding the usage of adult films is the answer to the ‘how to deal with your husband not wanting you’ question. The more frequently you watch adult films, the less your sexual drive becomes. Research suggests that terminating the usage of porn is sufficient to get back to your normal, healthy sex flow. If your partner doesn’t want to be intimate with you, then his alcohol and drug usage could be the problem. Excessive alcohol usage consumed on a daily basis can lead to a decrease in the production of testosterone. It doesn’t just affect your sexual functionality but it also leads to loss of libido. According to a study on the effects of drugs on male sexual function and fertility, it has been found that drugs can have negative effects on male libido, erection, ejaculation and orgasm, as well as on fertility. Jayant adds, “Also, when you are addicted to pornography, you become selfish and indulge in self-gratification. There will be no inclination to do anything for your partner’s pleasure. You satisfy yourself and hence you don’t see the need to satisfy your partner.”
5. Major life changes
Jayant says, “If your partner avoids you, then don’t take it as one of the signs your husband is planning to leave you. It could be due to major life changes. When such changes take place, you tend to look at your partner differently.” Some of these life changes could be:
Moving to a new city/countryChildren getting marriedBirth of grandchildrenBecoming devout and religiousThinking they are too old to have sex (aging)
9 Ways To Deal With Your Husband Not Wanting You
Jayant says, “Marriage is a living entity. You have to work on it every single day. You can’t be affectionate today and be aloof tomorrow. You can’t say “Oh, I was nice to you yesterday. Today, I am expecting affection from you.” Marriage doesn’t work that way and it isn’t as simple as that. You have to consciously contribute to make it work. It’s the little things that make your marriage stronger.” Before we find out the answers to how to deal with your husband not wanting you, let’s look at the possible reasons why your partner doesn’t want to be intimate with you, and what are the stressors that are building a wall between you and your partner:
Money issuesConflicts on how to bring up children and how to discipline themThe amount of freedom each spouse has in the marriageRules on dos and don’ts of a marriageThe extent to which they are living their individual lives Expectations could be getting in the wayNot articulating your needs clearly
Below are some of the answers to the question: How to deal with your husband not wanting you?
1. Communicate more
If your husband avoids you, then you need to find out why. When both of you are in a good mood, sit down and talk about it. The more you communicate with your spouse, the more peaceful your marriage will be. Jayant says, “Communication is a two-way street. Both parties should participate equally to understand and clear each other’s doubts.” A study on marital satisfaction and communication skills has found that “Couples who have effective communication skills express their desires more effectively, resolve their conflicts, share their thoughts and feelings more easily with each other, feel more intimate and close to each other, and finally they experience a higher quality of marriage. A high quality of marriage helps couples to be less at risk of marital burnout.”
2. Identify the comfort level
How comfortable are you with your partner? It’s important you understand that being best friends with your spouse can enhance your relationship in incredible ways. Lack of comfort can be harmful. The two of you aren’t just sharing a home. You are sharing your lives together. If you are saying “My husband loves me but not sexually”, then maybe he isn’t comfortable with you anymore. You need to build mutual intimacy by:
Having deep emotional conversationsBeing vulnerable with each otherLearn each other’s love languageTry to become each other’s best friends
3. Identify the issue
Jayant says, “This is the main solution to your ‘how to deal with your husband not wanting you’ concern. You need to identify the main issue and see if that can be addressed in a positive way. You won’t know how to get your husband to desire you if you don’t narrow down the problem.” The issues could be:
He’s losing interest due to your unwillingness to experiment in bedHe’s put off by your sky-high relationship expectations He’s not in love with you anymoreHe is having an affairHe’s not interested in sex anymore, which is something that needs to be talked about
4. Focus on other things
Jayant says, “Stop fixating on sex for a while. Hit pause on that particular problem and focus on the rest of your life. Do you think sex is the only good thing about your relationship that’s keeping it together? Wrong. Although it’s one of the contributing factors, there are many more dimensions than sex in a marriage. “You can go without sex for a few weeks and just enjoy each other’s company. Go on a trip together. Help each other out in household chores. Focus on your career and personal achievements. If you have children, find ways to becoming better parents. Sex cannot be given prime importance when there are so many other aspects of your marriage.” Look for things other than sex that keep your marriage afloat. According to a study by the University of Rochester, a marriage based on love and respect doesn’t just ‘happen’. Both spouses have to do their part. Marriages take work, commitment, quality time, trust, accepting flaws, learning to forgive, and love.
5. Have the expectations talk
How to deal with your husband not wanting you? Talk to him about expectations. It’s the unspoken expectations that ruin a relationship. It sets you up for failure because when they are unmet, you tend to develop resentment toward your partner. When you thrust such unrealistic expectations upon them, they might feel trapped in the relationship. Jayant says, “Expectations in relationships are a breeding ground for negativity and disappointment. You can’t expect your marriage to be how it was in the initial stages. Every relationship has to witness mundaneness once the honeymoon phase fades. If you can’t talk to them in person about this, you can text to make your husband want you back by aligning your expectations with each other’s capabilities.”
6. Cultivate empathy
Be understanding of what your partner is facing. If he is battling an addiction, stress, erectile dysfunction, or any kind of mental health issue, support your husband on the journey of recovery. You can’t just stand there and expect him to get better on his own. Let him know he’s seen and heard. When asked on Reddit how important empathy is in a relationship, a user shared, “Empathy for me leads to an understanding of a variety of humans; it allows you to make decisions based on not just your own feelings, but that of others. This doesn’t mean you have to cry with every person who’s going through heartache, but understanding their feelings and being a support in that respect is pretty solid.”
7. How to deal with your husband not wanting you? Spice it up
Jayant says, “How to get your husband to desire you? Up your bedroom game. Shake things up. It’s a possibility that your husband could be bored of repeating the same thing everyday. Remove the boredom by surprising your partner. Look for erotic things you can say to your partner.” Some of the things you can try to get rid of the boredom:
Send a flirty text to make your husband want youChange of scene – Book a hotel and go on a vacationDiscuss fantasies, likes, and dislikesRole play and toysCreate a sex playlist Massage each other
8. Build intimacy
Jayant adds, “What does it mean when your husband doesn’t want to touch you? Maybe he wants to be close to you emotionally. Try to build an emotional attachment with him. Connect with your partner on a deeper level by helping him let his guard down. Bring a little tenderness into the relationship. Hold hands. Touch each other’s cheeks. Run your fingers through his hair. A man really appreciates it when he is being shown love.” If your husband avoids you, then try to build the closeness by:
Cooking for himGetting him a small gift Appreciating him for everything he doesAsking open-ended questionsSupporting his dreams
9. Seek professional help
If nothing works out, you should try to get professional help and work on the issue. Whether it’s a difference of opinion or a genuine lack of interest in keeping the relationship alive, a therapist will understand the root of your problems in a better way. If you’re looking for professional help, Bonobology’s panel of experienced counselors is only a click away.
5 Things You Can Do To Improve Intimacy In Your Marriage
Lack of intimacy can directly lead to a loveless relationship. You don’t choose to be trapped in a sexless marriage. It can happen to anyone due to the many factors mentioned above. You begin to feel unloved, insecure, and it takes a toll on your mental health. If you don’t know how to deal with your partner not wanting you, then these tips can help in improving intimacy between you two:
1. Date each other
Jayant says, “Bring back the feeling of how you were when you first met each other. Go back to the dating phase. One of the main reasons a relationship gets boring is that partners stop being curious about each other. When you are newly dating someone, you want to know every single thing about them.” Be fully present when you are with them. Keep your phone aside. Take time out to have some ‘us’ time. No kids, no television, and no work. Go on dates to rebuild romance. Recreate that magic of the first year.
2. Attract them physically
How to deal with your husband not wanting you? Get a new look. Get a haircut, a new outfit, put on his favorite scent, or put on makeup when you’re at home. There’s nothing wrong in changing your hair color if that will make your husband notice you. He might be busy with work and this little change might spark romance between the two of you. Jayant says, “It’s not a big deal to do little things for your partner. It’s only concerning when you change your personality for them. A level of physical attraction is necessary to sustain a relationship.” A Reddit user shares, “Physical attraction is extremely important in a marriage. If you don’t feel any attraction to an individual, do them and yourselves a favor and refuse the proposal. You are not going to have a good time building a lifetime together if you are having doubts from the very start. Your personal preferences do not have to adhere to the conventional take of pale skin, slender build, or straight hair. But you should feel a spark at least.”
3. Practice other kinds of intimacy
If you are saying “My husband hasn’t touched me in years”, then maybe he isn’t feeling secure or is feeling distant from you. Prove yourself to be a trustworthy partner who he can rely on. Be vulnerable with him by sharing your weaknesses, secrets, traumas (if you’re comfortable), and desires. There are many things that happen when a man is vulnerable with you. He becomes more authentic and he will communicate better. He might just reciprocate eventually, with time and no pressure. Create emotional, intellectual, and experimental intimacy.
4. Show appreciation
Let your partner know from time to time that they are loved, valued, appreciated, and accepted for who they are and as they are. Simple words of affirmation go a long way in keeping the relationship harmonious. Show you are grateful for their presence in your life by appreciating them.
5. Make each other happy
Make each other laugh, watch a few funny movies or videos, go and play with animals at a pet center. Shared smiles and laughter can help you build back intimacy with each other. These are the simple rules for a happy marriage. Jayant says, “How you keep each other happy is the crux of the matter in a marriage. You have to do it for yourself, and for your partner. If you love someone, you want to make them happy. Not because they are demanding happiness from you and vice versa, but simply because you want to keep them happy.” Remember, you can’t place the responsibility of your happiness on another person. If you want to be happy in life and in marriage, you need to learn to do that by yourself. Marriage takes a lot of communication, trust, and the ability to let go of a few things. In a healthy marriage, you will fight, forgive, and forget. Ultimately, we hope you find your way back to each other soon.
