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2Intimacy & Diabetes

Types of Intimacy

According to sex educator Marilyn Volker, EdD, there are eight types of intimacy couples can engage in to strengthen their connection with one another:

Aesthetic: sharing something beautiful together, such as viewing an art exhibit museum or watching a sunrise

Affection (nonsexual)

Emotional: sharing feelings

Intellectual: discussing interesting topics

Physical (nonsexual)

Sexual

Social: going out together

Spiritual: praying together or sharing spiritual ideas

Three of these types, emotional, physical and sexual, played an enor-mous role in the lives of some of history’s greatest loves.

Physical and Sexual Intimacy

Physical and sexual intimacy is all about touch. It involves holding, ca-ressing, sexual attraction, and intimate actions. It is the subject of love songs, poems, and romantic stories. Physical intimacy is what many of us yearn for when we are alone and is what we feel when we connect with someone in a romantic way.

We not only crave the touch of another human being because of the potential pleasure that it brings; the touch of others can help us survive. Research studies show that newborns need a loving touch to develop normally. Within the first few days after birth, infants who are held in their mother’s loving arms maintain a healthier body temperature than those who are left alone. Young children who are not held or hugged may be at a greater risk for developing body image problems, such as anorexia or bulimia, as they grow. And this need for physical intimacy does not diminish with time. In our golden years, the desire to be sexually active rarely wanes, as many seniors report that they still feel a deep longing for a sexual relationship that includes touching and kissing.