Stop Painful Sex: Healing from Vaginismus. A Step-by-Step Guide
Throughout this book I have tried to use as little jargon as possible, be it
medical or technical, to make it easy to understand and follow. I have
instead used my own words and simple descriptions as much as possible.
There might be sections in this book that you are already knowledgeable
about and bits you might find boring. Feel free to skip from one section to
the next as it suits you.
This book includes an integrated workbook. Aside from physical exercises,
it includes questions which help by guiding you in the exploration and
discovery of your beliefs, thoughts and feelings about sex and sexuality. I
have found this self-discovery process a vital part in my own journey
(which continued long after the symptoms disappeared) as it helped me
understand why I thought or felt a certain way. Sometimes just by finding
out this information I've felt free to choose a new way of thinking as I
realized the belief or emotion originated from somewhere or someone else.
You might like to use a special note book or journal where you can write
down your thoughts and reactions to the questions and exercises. Workbook
questions are indicated in italics throughout the book. Other questions,
mainly the post couple exercise ones aren't necessarily labeled as workbook
questions because I want you to discuss your experience together with your
partner. However, of course following it up with reflection in your journal
may be useful as well.
I have included a lot of exercises and I want to urge you to only do those
you feel comfortable doing. Complete them at your own pace and feel free
to explore one particular exercise over a period of time. There is no rule that
says you need to take this journey in any specific way. It's your life, your
body and your choice. So find a way that works for you