Emotional obstacles.
Stress, anxiety, and
depression can affect your
interest in sex and your
ability to become aroused.
Psychological changes
may even interfere with
your ability to connect
emotionally with your
partner.
Body image. As you
notice more wrinkles or
gray hair, or become
aware of love handles or
cellulite, you may feel
less attractive to your
partner. These feelings
can make sex less
appealing, and can cause
you to become less
interested in sex.
Low self-esteem.
Changes at work,
retirement, or other major
life changes may leave
you feeling temporarily
uncertain about your
sense of purpose. This can
undermine your selfesteem and make you feel
less attractive to others.
Worry over
“performance.”
Worrying about how you
will perform, or whether
you are worthy of sexual
attention from your
partner, can lead to
impotence in men and
lack of arousal or orgasm
in women. This may be a
problem you have never
before had to face.
Jumpstarting your sex drive
Sex drives can be naturally
stalled as you face the realities
of aging, but it is possible to
overcome these bumps in the
road.
Communicate. Talk to
your partner, or to a
friend or counselor, about
your issues, whether
they’re physical or
emotional. Explain the
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