During the early stages of the COVID-19 shelter-in-place I started seeing increased traffic regarding swinger-related items. This trend piqued my curiosity.
Over the next few days, it became clear that swingers were experiencing a withdrawal from the activity and stimulation they are accustomed to. The shelter-in-place forced many of them into a cold-turkey situation. Their minds and bodies are accustomed to activity and the shelter-in-place was a sudden interruption of their patterns.
The shelter-in-place in many communities limited their interaction with their usual playmates. Without the stimulation they are used to, they are thrown into an agitated restlessness.
At that moment, all the talk about how they’re happier and better adjusted that ‘other couples’ was disproved. No matter how much denial they exhibited, at that moment they began experiencing withdrawal symptoms associated with their level of sexual activity.
Denying that you’re a sex or love addict goes out the window when the withdrawal symptoms hit. The depression, mood swings, irritation, body aches and skin irritation say a different story.
Their bodies communicate one message while their brain starts craving stimulation that takes them to their previous levels. At those moments, the old standby’s of porn (visual or story form), voyeurism and other fetishes appeal to them.
It’s no surprise that the shelter-in-place situation fueled massive traffic to porn sites. This pattern happened to swingers and to cheaters who were suddenly forced into changes.
Even though their spouse is there with them, for those who are into the swinging lifestyle, it’s not enough. If this sounds like what you’re going through, the shelter-in-place is also giving you the opportunity to make some important choices.
You now have the opportunity to change the lifestyle you’re caught up in. In the video “Relationship Trauma for Swingers” I address ways of starting the journey back to resiliency before things got so out of control.
You can use this time for regaining a life you thought was long gone.
Click and download the video. You can start the healing today.
Keeping It Real,
Jeff
