355. Why don't I enjoy sex that much?

psychologyofyour20s

Our 20s are sold to us as the decade of peak desire - full of passion, spontaneity, and effortless intimacy. But for so many of us, that isn’t the reality. When libido dips or fluctuates, it can feel confusing, isolating, and even shameful. In this episode, we ask why it is so common to struggle with libido in our 20s, what’s actually happening beneath the surface when desire feels distant, and how to make sense of the emotional and physical shifts that come with it.

We explore:

•        How it feels when our libido fluctuates
•        Why so many of us struggle with this in our 20s
•        The dual control theory of sexual response
•        Libido as a reflection of safety
•        The role of hormones, stress and mental health 
•        Identity development and the impact of shame
•        Tips to reconnect with pleasure

If you’ve ever wondered why you don’t feel the same drive as others seem to, this episode is for you.

ORDER MY BOOK

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com 

The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More description

Our 20s are sold to us as the decade of peak desire - full of passion, spontaneity, and effortless intimacy. But for so many of us, that isn’t the reality. When libido dips or fluctuates, it can feel confusing, isolating, and even shameful. In this episode, we ask why it is so common to struggle with libido in our 20s, what’s actually happening beneath the surface when desire feels distant, and how to make sense of the emotional and physical shifts that come with it.

We explore:

•        How it feels when our libido fluctuates
•        Why so many of us struggle with this in our 20s
•        The dual control theory of sexual response
•        Libido as a reflection of safety
•        The role of hormones, stress and mental health 
•        Identity development and the impact of shame
•        Tips to reconnect with pleasure

If you’ve ever wondered why you don’t feel the same drive as others seem to, this episode is for you.

ORDER MY BOOK

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com 

The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2025-11-18 34 min Transcript
Listen elsewhere

Available Results

Generated results are saved to your library for reuse and search.

No generated results are available for this episode yet.

Transcript

Open the Transcript tab to load the transcript.

Chapters

No chapters available.