Why are intimate relationships important

Shorey states that the tendency of individuals to shut off their emotions and become detached from a person or situation may stem from how that person was raised as a child. Because so many individuals struggle with intimacy, they may often feel hesitant to let someone in and truly open up.

In my opinion, love is nothing without intimacy. Rather than solely being romantic, relationships should have an element of friendship and familiarity.

In a meaningful relationship, one should be willing to swallow their pride, say they are sorry, and stop pointing fingers.

Not only that, but it is crucial for one to open up, be vulnerable and not dismissive. Not everyone knows what intimacy means and the first thing people may think of is sex and hooking up.

Real intimacy is about communication and trust. Like anything, there are many types of love. But at the root of it all is intimacy and having a deeper connection with an individual. Skip to content. Having variety and diversity in your relationships is important. But for the purpose of this blog we will be focussing on close intimate relationships. Close intimate relationships almost always gradually evolve over time.

You might hit it off with someone right away. But the relationship inevitably gets stronger, closer and deeper as you get to know one another. For this to happen, we need to prioritise our time, energy and focus. Only then can we actually nurture and develop a relationship with the other person or persons.

But, for many, this is not always the most helpful structure. The invitation is to shift your attention from the cultural ideal of a relationship and look at relationships from a much more personal perspective. What kind of relationship you want to have and experience? It may be the case that you enjoy a close emotional relationship with one person, but have a sexual relationship with another.

It may be that you are well matched in terms of sexual, emotional and financial needs with one person but that your intellectual stimulation and satisfaction comes through a different connection. Whatever the structure and dynamic of the intimate relationship you want and need, the primary and fundamental ingredient is most likely to be trust. When we feel accepted and valued for who we are, we thrive and blossom. So, why does this have anything to do with your health? The maintenance state, often referred to as Rest and Repair, is essential to keep the different systems like detox, digestion and immunity running.

You can read more about stress state and maintenance state in this blog here. Use them to get curious about your relationship s and discover what is right for you, or not as the case may be. So think of it in terms of why are you bothering to sustain and maintain the relationship? A big part of intimacy is sharing your thoughts and feelings honestly, and listening to your partner when they do the same.

Look, you don't have to watch Jeopardy together every single night, but it can be fun to have intellectual conversations with your partner, primarily if you work in different fields. Find new topics to talk about; simple Google searches pull up hundreds of conversation starters.

If you put effort into having conversations outside of the everyday monotony, it can keep things fresh in your relationship. While couples don't have to be joined at the hip, shared experiences are important in healthy relationships. They're also often the way that relationships begin, so experiences can even add an element of nostalgia for long-term partners. If you're looking to deepen your experiential intimacy , this is an excellent time to book a trip or try out a fun new date spot or activity in your city.

Attempt to learn something new about your partner. While this can be referring to religious ideas and beliefs, it can also mean something more profound, like sharing actual beliefs and values. Your values and beliefs can align with religion or even health and wellness. Regardless, it's important to share these important aspects of your life with your partner.

This can also be a chance for you and your partner to talk about what role you want spirituality to play in your lives if you have a family. No matter how long you have been together, it's always important to build your intimacy levels. Here are some easy, practical ways to strengthen your levels of intimacy in your relationship:. Whether you've just started dating someone or you've been together for years, intimacy plays a vital role in your relationships.

Know that it can take time if your relationship is still new, but it's worth the work that it takes to go through new experiences together. Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Sexton R. In: Fischer M. Springer, Boston, MA. Development and Validation of the Emotional Intimacy Scale. Journal of Nursing Measurement. Glob J Health Sci. Published Aug 1. Nabil S. Naya Clinics.