Non-Monogamy and Feelings of Loss, Depression, Personal Failure

When the topic of non-monogamy is broached in a relationship which was originally predicated upon monogamy (as is often the case with newly-discovered or uncovered bisexual desire), it can bring about the same kinds of strong emotional responses usually associated with breaking-up and ending a relationship, although this is not what is being proposed.

Depression, loss, self-loathing, anger, jealousy, devastation and feeling as if the whole world has come undone are often experienced. These feelings can come about even if nothing has happened and no one has “cheated” on their agreement. The response is even more pronounced when non-monogamous behaviour has been discovered unintentionally.

It’s interesting to note that both parties experience these feelings of loss – the ones who introduce the subject or commit the transgression, as well as their partners. They experience these feelings at different times, but they do experience them.

The cause of this intense emotional response is nothing less than the shattering of the One True Love mythology.

Up to that point the couple believed in the One True Love mythology, which states that there is one person on earth who will complete you; a Soul Mate who will be your everything; satisfy your every need, sexual and otherwise, from the time you meet each other in your youth till the day that death parts your ways in old age.

The rarified atmosphere of the One True Love mythology is much like living in a glass snow globe. When stating that monogamy is not working for them, by word or deed, consensually or not, one of the partners is admitting the they have sexual needs which in fact cannot be met by the other – which extend beyond the quaint little world inside the snow globe.

Smash! The glass is crushed, breaking the seal on their world of wonder. All the liquid comes pouring out, leaving the couple exposed to the harsh, natural elements of life outside a glass bubble. They writhe in pain like fish out of water; their skin too sensitive to the touch without a liquid enclosure; lungs straining for breath as they adjust to the unprotected atmosphere of life in a world where sexual desire and temptation know no bounds.

The revelation of sexual needs which extend beyond monogamous unions is one with which all of those in relationship with bisexuals who feel a need for more must contend.

The first thoughts which flood our confounded minds are along the lines of: “If I cannot satisfy all your sexual needs, then I am not enough: not sexy enough; not sexually pleasing enough; not attractive enough. If I cannot be all things sexual to you then I must be a failure as a partner, as a lover, as a person.”

We all have plenty of difficulties with feeling worthy, which is why this admission that the other has sexual needs which extend beyond you strikes so deeply and hurts so much. It’s easy to internalize this and see it as a personal failing, despite the fact that it is in no way such a statement.
The major cases are due to levitra prescription cost psychological issues where the inner walls of the arteries gets thickened and due to this they cannot supply blood to the penile area and thus become a bully to the student. If you look around fastidiously you’ll see that the internet store offers an encrypted checkout such as VISA low cialis cost you can try here card payment. It can affect a woman’s desire for ordine cialis on line http://robertrobb.com/russia-is-now-in-the-middle-east-snake-pit/ sex and cause arousal. You should prevent smoking too to live 10 years more than your parents lived sildenafil online without prescription after the age of 70 or 80 years.
Be aware that, as strong as these feelings of personal failure and lack are manifest in the receiver of this information, they are 10 times stronger in the bisexual person who has mustered up the courage to express their needs.

Both of you are at the mercy of the powerful forces known as authentic human sexual expression.

Despite what many believe, human sexuality is a vital, integral, non-negotiable aspect of Who We Really Are. Our authentic sexual expression is so important to us as individuals that we are willing to risk our loves, our friends, colleagues, relations, and in some cases our very lives to live our own truth. This is true of all sexual orientations.

Sexuality is not something you can keep in your pocket, put down, ignore, defy, deny, or escape. Its authentic expression need not be relationship-ending, life-threatening, lethal, wrong, shameful or feared.

Authentic bisexual expression can be easily accommodated within the bounds of a long-term, committed relationship of either homosexual or heterosexual nature. Bisexual desire is “in addition to”, not “exclusive of” our other sexual desire. This is not a denial of what is, but an expression of an expanded need.

Again, people of all sexual orientations discover they have authentic sexual needs which cannot be met within the confines of monogamy.

Monogamy is a human issue, not a bisexual issue. Monogamy is a lifestyle choice, sexuality is not. Monogamy is not morally superior, biologically natural, more important, emotionally easier or safer.

The One True Love mythology has run its course; the supporting evidence for its validity is non-existent. To believe that you will not change, that you will have the same wants and needs in your early twenties as you will in your early 60s is naive to say the least.

Allowing for sexual growth, freedom, expansion and exploration make life as a lifelong, committed couple sustainable for many. Whether this is at all desirable is another story; one for another post.

Facebooktwitterredditmail

2 thoughts on “Non-Monogamy and Feelings of Loss, Depression, Personal Failure

  1. Hi! I find myself writing you looking for advice. My husband and I he been together for over a year, after having become friends for years. We both we were swingers before we met and when we finally came together continued to be. He knew that I am bisexual and was thrilled with it and we have had many encounters involving both men and women. Herein is my problem. I have long suspected my husband of being bi. I have came straight out and asked him on numerous occasions and he has always denied it. I let him know while we were still in the friends/satin phase that I had divorced a husband because he came out to me as gay. Not bi, gay. He wanted me to remain married to him as his cover. I did not find this fair to myself or him so we divorced. I also let my now husband know that I had been so turned off in the past by an ex lover that told me details of his bisexual encounters that I stopped seeing him. So I see my now husbands reluctance to admit to it. Well, a week ago he did. I was mainly more upset that he’d lied to me over the course of a year or so, because I didn’t care what he had done 20 years ago. Well now he wants to act on those impulses and I’m not sure how to feel. He insists anything he does will always be with me present as this is our agreement. We both love each other and do not want to even consider divorcing. But I just cannot picture myself being in a threesome and my husband giving oral sex or receiving (bottom) sex from another man. He has said his love for me is greater than these urges and will not act upon them. I say my love for him is enough to not hold him back sexually. I feel like such a hypocrite seeing as I myself am bisexual. How can I overcome these feelings that my husband will be less of a man if he begins bisexual activities again for the first time in 20 years? I know how difficult it was for him to take the chance to tell me finally seeing as he’s aware I’ve walked away from two other men in the past over this issue. The thing is, I’ve matured and grown sexually myself since those relationships. But I just can’t wrap my brain around my husband doing this! Please set me straight!

    1. Dear Rachel,

      Thank you for reaching out to me with this comment on my blog.

      You have asked me to set you “straight”, but it sounds as if you need to be set “queer” instead.

      Rachel you are a homophobe. This is inexcusable at the best of times, but as a bisexual woman, you really need to look at this hypocrisy.

      As a bisexual man I have encountered such double standards around bisexuality, especially in the swinging community, where female bisexuality is expected, and male bisexuality strongly discouraged, and often outright prohibited.

      To make matters worse it was YOU who poked and prodded the poor man until he finally acquiesced and disclosed his bisexual desires to you, and then you have the nerve to turn on him!?

      Shame on you Rachel. Shame on you.

      Now this is what you must do:

      1. Apologize for your despicable behaviour.
      2. Encourage him to have experiences.
      3. Be supportive and loving of these.
      4. Change your attitude.

      I don’t give a good god-damn about whatever excuses you think you may have for being a homophobe. There are none.

      You don’t have to have a threesome with him. Allow him to go and have experiences on his own if the sight of two men having sex is so abhorrent to you.

      Thank you for writing.

      Mark

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *