Let’s Talk About Sex (And Relationships)

This post is presented in partnership with ReachOut.

Birds do it. Bees do it. Even educated fleas do it, as the old song goes.

But there’s still a lot of mystery when it comes to sex (mostly because asking questions, particularly of your parents, can make you feel pretty awkward).

The good news is there’s nothing to feel awkward or uncomfortable about. Being curious about sex is perfectly normal, and nobody knows everything without first asking the right questions.

Still, sex and romantic relationships shouldn’t be taken lightly. That’s why we asked ReachOut to share some invaluable advice and answer questions like, “How do you know when you’re ready for sex?” and “How do you cope with a breakup?”

Don't decoy, avoid, or make void the topic (as a less dated song goes). Find out the answers below.

‘Am I ready for sex?’

“How do you know when you’re ready to have sex for the first time? Does a switch flick in your brain? Will you receive a handwritten letter letting you know that you’re ready to go forth and take off all of your clothes? Unfortunately, it’s not so simple, but there are questions you can ask yourself to make sure you don’t do the deed too early.” Read more.

‘Porn and expectations’

“Porn can be hard to avoid when you're surfing the net. One minute you're innocently looking for the perfect reaction GIF to accompany your staff wide email, and then bam! A poorly thought out search term later, and you're hit with a NSFW treasure trove of erotica. And it gets even easier to find porn when you're in the mood for it. But can the consumption of porn have an effect on what we expect from sex?” Read more.

‘Coping with a break up’

“When you’re coping with a break up it can be hard to know what will make you feel better. There are a couple of things you can do that will help with the process of healing. However, if things don’t get better you may need to seek help from someone who knows good coping strategies like a counsellor or psychologist.” Read more.

‘Conflict in relationships’

“Not every relationship is meant to be, but sometimes problems can be sorted by just talking things through. Working out if a relationship is right also involves working out what you’re willing to compromise. There are a few approaches to resolving problems which can help you to work out if it’s the right relationship for you.” Read more.

Visit ReachOut to get support to help you with everything from everyday issues through to tough times.

Photo: iStock.