Is it unreasonable to want more than a flaccid penis shoved in my face to initiate sex?

Its interesting that the way you've framed this really leaves us with very little to do besides condemn your husband.

"Is it unreasonable to..."

Basically its a plea to just agree with you. You framed the question and situation in such a way that its a no brainer.

Of course its not unreasonable to want what you expressed.

The problem is that you exist within a relationship with lots of dynamics beyond what you are currently aware of, and are able to understand. Like most people in dysfunctional relationships who invite us in to side with them against their evil (or pathetic!) spouses, we can all rest assured that there are lots of fun facts about you that we dont know, and cant know, because you yourself don't know and/or cant acknowledge their reality.

You being overworked and stressed out, for example, is also a form of neglect. Neglect of yourself and your significant other. That alone is enough to destroy a relationship.

Presumably there are issues with you initiating (or not initiating), and the possibility of a subtle emotional tone of coldness and contempt (which you are most likely unconscious of) can result in people 'acting out' like desperate pleas for affection. Decontextualized sexual acting out (like the scene described) is often a response to neglect: hey, I know you won't take care of my needs of your own volition, so I'm going to force the issue. Condemning him wont shed any light on the invisible dynamics that precede this.

Generally any acting out in family systems is preceded by prior unconscious actions of neglect and withholding. The person doing this is unaware that they are doing it, so they frame the other person's "acting out" behaviors as if they just came right out of the blue. In fact, there are perfectly good reasons for the behavior that are dismissed, because they come from a place within their partner's emotionality that is actively being dismissed.

Your implicit claim and what you're ready to acknowledge right now, is that a man blind to your sexual needs is your only problem.

But I think the problems you are facing run much deeper than that.

/r/DeadBedrooms Thread