18. Sexless Season? How Couples Rebuild Closeness After a Sexual Dry Spell

Even healthy marriages go through an ebb and flow of sexual connection. The goal is to recognize it, be honest, and find ways to bridge the gap.

In this episode of the Sexual Wholeness Revival podcast, hosts Mary and Katieann discuss how married couples who love each other and follow God can still experience sexual dry spells due to everyday life stress, grief, travel, and busyness, emphasizing that this isn’t necessarily a crisis or moral failure.

Mary defines a dry spell as reduced consistency and connection, shares a recent example after her father-in-law’s death and a 17-day trip, and encourages couples to notice how long it’s been and avoid letting it become the new normal.

They stress honest conversations outside the bedroom, grounding attitudes in 1 Corinthians 13 and Matthew 7:12, avoiding negative assumptions, and communicating needs since spouses aren’t mind readers.

They address mismatched expectations (frequency, initiation, timing), recommend rebuilding closeness through nonsexual affection, love languages, fun, and shared hobbies, and suggest reintroducing sex by switching who initiates, returning to familiar patterns, or trying new ideas within mutual respect.

They also recommend habits like regular check-ins, calendar planning, date times, affirmation, and intentional connection.

TIMESTAMPS: 

00:00 Why Dry Spells Happen

01:01 Defining a Dry Spell

08:08 Talk Before the Bedroom

12:19 Handling Mismatched Desire

14:16 Nonsexual Touch and Fun

19:10 Easy Ways to Reconnect

22:47 Rhythms That Protect Intimacy

26:18 Practice and Encouragement

27:46 Resources and Wrap Up

TAKEAWAYS:

• Expect dry spells in marriage during stressful seasons.
• Talk honestly outside the bedroom to reconnect.
• Choose patience and kindness instead of blame.
• Rebuild closeness through affection and fun.
• Protect intimacy with simple rhythms like check-ins and date time.

RESOURCES:
Is it difficult to talk about these awkward places your relationship?

Get super practical tips with the free guide: 10 Tips to Start Tough Talks

Want more support for your marriage? Check out blogs, YouTube videos and other resources at: LimitlessIntimacy.com

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DISCLAIMER:

This podcast is designed for informational purposes only. Any and all actions or consequences from the podcast are the sole responsibility of the podcast audience participant. Information should not be seen as medical or mental health advice, and is not meant to take the place of seeing licensed health professionals.

 

Special thanks to Suzanna Storey of Saphron Music for “Shape Shifter”, on her Identity Crisis album.