How do you feel after sex?
Sex can bring up some pretty intense emotions— joyful euphoria is obviously my favorite but , it’s not uncommon to feel sad after sex either.
Whether it’s a casual encounter, sex with your long term partner, or anything in between — how partners respond after sex can affect whether or not you feel happy, safe and comfortable, or sad, upset, and confused afterwards.
This is why the concept of sexual “aftercare” is helpful. Discussing with one another how you each like to interact post sex is a valuable conversation to have. Whether you like cuddling or you need some space, whether you like talking, or you’d rather be quiet— these are things you can discuss so that you’re each able to understand one another’s needs and behaviors better.
Rolling over and avoiding your partner or leaving right after sex for example can sometimes make the other person feel used or undervalued. On the other hand, some might love long drawn post sex snuggles while for others it might feel overwhelming to linger in all that vulnerability together.
So it’s worth talking about this stuff so you can ensure you’re always treating each other with kindness and respect. Even just getting a cup of tea together after can make such a world of difference in terms of whether a sexual experience feels positive and memorable or confusing/ upsetting. 💕
