for most people, stress slams on the brakes, bottoming out sexual interest—except for the 10 to 20 percent or so of people like Olivia for whom stress activates the accelerator. (All the same parts, organized in different ways.) But even for those folks, stress blocks sexual pleasure (liking) even as it increases sexual interest (wanting). Stressed sex feels different from joyful sex—you know, because: context. To reduce the impact of stress on your sexual pleasure and interest, to have more joyful, pleasurable sex, manage your stress.
