Healthy Connections

Reflections on Intimacy and Illness

Body Image
Overcoming Distorted Self-Perceptions Following Surgery

Maryann Karinch on February 19, 2025

Your body is not perfect, especially after treatment to cure a life-threatening disease. Appreciate your new look, have self-love, and believe that you have sexual energy.

Your body is not perfect, especially after treatment to cure a life-threatening disease. Appreciate your new look, have self-love, and believe that you have sexual energy.

Relationships
A Sensual Love Letter Can Be a Hope Letter

Maryann Karinch on September 5, 2024

Write love letters (or texts) to your partner that project possibilities, as well as what you already enjoy together, your common goals, and the joy of your connection.

Write love letters (or texts) to your partner that project possibilities, as well as what you already enjoy together, your common goals, and the joy of your connection.

Woman demonstrating region of pelvic floor
Sex
How Pelvic Floor Health Affects Intimacy

Maryann Karinch on May 6, 2024

Painful sex has several major causes. One of them can result from illness or general deconditioning. You can discreetly address one of the causes through an exercise.

Painful sex has several major causes. One of them can result from illness or general deconditioning. You can discreetly address one of the causes through an exercise.

Aging
How and Why You Can Enjoy Golden Dating

Maryann Karinch on October 9, 2023

Whether you like or hate "The Golden Bachelor," it’s hard not to empathize with the people over age 60 who are looking for a sexual spark and not “just” companionship.

Whether you like or hate "The Golden Bachelor," it’s hard not to empathize with the people over age 60 who are looking for a sexual spark and not “just” companionship.

Keep the triangle in mind for a great sex life.
Sex
The Geometry of Your Sex Drive

Maryann Karinch on July 17, 2023

Different parts of your brain have to want sex if you want full enjoyment. You need the wild animal part as well as the thinking parts for the best outcome.

Different parts of your brain have to want sex if you want full enjoyment. You need the wild animal part as well as the thinking parts for the best outcome.

Sex
The Value of Direct Communication About Sex

Maryann Karinch on May 10, 2022

Do you wish you could tell your partner what would improve your sex life? A bit of dialogue coaching might nudge you toward a good outcome.

Do you wish you could tell your partner what would improve your sex life? A bit of dialogue coaching might nudge you toward a good outcome.

Sex
How Disabling Challenges Can Enhance a Couple's Sex Life

Maryann Karinch on January 31, 2022

The sudden acquisition of a catheter, stoma bag, or other medical device can interfere with sex. But embracing the difference—and even having some fun with it—can help couples keep intimacy alive.

The sudden acquisition of a catheter, stoma bag, or other medical device can interfere with sex. But embracing the difference—and even having some fun with it—can help couples keep intimacy alive.

Sexual desire can last a lifetime
Sex
Sex After Your Partner Dies

Maryann Karinch on July 27, 2021

Mourning the loss of sexual intimacy when your partner dies is called sexual bereavement, and it's a normal experience.

Mourning the loss of sexual intimacy when your partner dies is called sexual bereavement, and it's a normal experience.

Friends
Even Strong Hearts Can Break

Maryann Karinch on April 15, 2021

Do you have a friend with a broken heart? It's a real illness and you can take action to help your friend heal.

Do you have a friend with a broken heart? It's a real illness and you can take action to help your friend heal.

Friends
Evacuation — An Antidote to the Pandemic

Maryann Karinch on November 29, 2020

In terms of relationships, our evacuation during raging wildfires was a kind of antidote to the pandemic. It reinforced healthy connections with family and friends.

In terms of relationships, our evacuation during raging wildfires was a kind of antidote to the pandemic. It reinforced healthy connections with family and friends.

Beauty
Do You Feel Like You’re Climbing a Scree Field?

Maryann Karinch on August 24, 2020

How are you coping with the ambiguity of the pandemic? We all need "teammates" to help us move toward more certainty in our daily lives.

How are you coping with the ambiguity of the pandemic? We all need "teammates" to help us move toward more certainty in our daily lives.

Fear
The Power of Intimacy in a Pandemic

Maryann Karinch on August 9, 2020

Ever find yourself backing off, even from people you love and trust, because they might have "it"? You need more than hand sanitizer to protect yourself from the effects of COVID.

Ever find yourself backing off, even from people you love and trust, because they might have "it"? You need more than hand sanitizer to protect yourself from the effects of COVID.

Relationships
Emotion, Change, and Other Verbs

Maryann Karinch on March 14, 2020

Are you passively responding to love? Make "emotion" a verb in your life so love can make you feel good--literally!

Are you passively responding to love? Make "emotion" a verb in your life so love can make you feel good--literally!

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Magazine
September 2026 magazine cover
September 2026
The Power of Enough

We’re all holding onto something we’re sure we can’t give up on, but research shows that letting go can boost our happiness a lot more than we might think.

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Tests
Self Tests
Self Tests

Self Tests are all about you. Are you outgoing or introverted? Are you a narcissist? Does perfectionism hold you back? Find out the answers to these questions and more with Psychology Today.

Self Assessments
Quizzes