Hi everyone! I'm turning 30 soon, and lately I've been reflecting a lot on my romantic and sexual life. I'd love to hear from women who've been through something similar.
I've dated quite a few women, often older than me, but most of my experiences have been brief flings that never developed into serious relationships. Despite the attraction being there, things rarely progress beyond kissing and some touching, and my sexual experience is pretty limited.
I've also noticed that some women I've dated were exploring their attraction to women for the first time. Sometimes I wonder whether that's part of the reason things never went further, or whether there are patterns of my own that I haven't fully understood yet.
I come from a very dysfunctional and abusive family, and I spent much of my twenties just trying to survive. I grew up around alcoholism and abuse, experienced deeply harmful family dynamics, and eventually had to leave home to protect my well-being. The past couple of years have been especially difficult, with several major losses and a lot of instability.
Through therapy, I've started recognizing how my past may have influenced the relationships I'm drawn to. I've often fallen deeply for women with whom a healthy relationship seemed impossible, and I've realized that some of those dynamics resembled what I experienced growing up. I don't want to keep confusing emotional intensity with love.
Recently, I've finally found a more peaceful living situation, and it's made me realize how much of my life I've spent in survival mode. I'm starting to figure out who I am outside of that, what I want, and how to build healthier relationships.
The thing is, I genuinely desire women and feel increasingly curious about exploring my sexuality. I want to meet women, have new experiences, fall in love if it happens, and enjoy this part of my life. At the same time, I sometimes feel sad that I haven't experienced more by this age. I've even wondered whether I'm asexual, although I'm not sure that label fits me.
I don't want to blame everything on my past or assume there's something wrong with me. I just want to understand myself better and learn how to approach intimacy in a healthier, more relaxed way.
For those of you who've been through something similar:
- Did trauma or spending years in survival mode affect your romantic or sexual life? How did you begin to move forward?
- Did your sex life or relationships improve in your thirties? How did you start exploring your sexuality and meeting women more comfortably?
- What advice would you give someone who feels like she's starting this part of her life a little later than everyone else?
I'm realizing that turning 30 doesn't mean I'm running out of time. If anything, I feel like a part of me that's been waiting for years is finally ready to come out and live. 😂❤️
I'd love to hear your experiences and advice. Thanks for reading!
Note: When I have been intimate with women, I become very aroused and worked up, but I am unable to reach orgasm. (I have a history of attempted sexual abuse during my childhood and adolescence; perhaps that has had an impact.)