|
We cannot restore sensation....(05/04/2004)by Unknown Unfortunately, we cannot restore sensation to parts of the body affected by disability or illness. However, there are commonly used techniques to help increase awareness to areas of our body where sensation is still intact and where we may be open to sexual stimulation. Sensate focus exercises described by Drs. Masters and Johnson, pleasure mapping described by Dr. Stubbs, and charting your personal extragenital (areas besides your genitals that may bring sexual pleasure) matrix described by Drs. Whipple and Ogden are three options for increasing sexual communication and sexual pleasure. Sensate focus, pleasure mapping, and charting your extragenital matrix are all ways to explore various parts of your body including your head, hair, face, ears and neck; your chest, breasts, nipples, abdomen; your back, buttocks, arms, underarms, hands, fingers, legs, feet, and toes. Exploration can include using different kinds of touch with the hands like stroking, rubbing, squeezing; different kinds of touch with the mouth like kissing, sucking, nipping; incorporating lotions, oils, and powders, feathers, silk, or even a vibrator. It is best to set time aside to explore a certain portion of your body, say from the shoulders up. During that time just focus on stimulation to the chosen area without any plans of moving to any other areas or of having sexual intercourse. These exercises place the emphasis on intimacy and pleasure versus the goal of performance and orgasm. These exercises are not specific to people with disability or illness. Everybody has the potential for sexual growth through these fun activities. Sexual pleasure adds to quality of life for everybody, including people with disability or illness. This article appears in the following topics: |
|
© 1996- THE SEXUAL HEALTH NETWORK, INC