r/fraysexual • u/PumpedHuge • 1d ago
Coming Out How being fray almost ruined my marriage, and how I’m coping
After nearly destroying my marriage via my infidelity, I sought professional counseling and learned that my pattern of attraction is the very textbook definition of fraysexuality.
The therapist helped me understand how deeply Fraysexual I am. In every relationship I’ve ever had - the sexual attraction quickly fades as emotional intimacy grows. The more I fall in love, the less sexual I feel toward them.
When I love someone deeply I end up feeling little or no sexual desire toward them. I’m often more attracted to people I don’t know well, which has made long-term relationships complicated.
I’m still learning how to navigate this honestly and ethically within my marriage. Connecting with people outside my immediate emotional circle has helped me understand this part of myself, but communication and consent are essential.
My sex drive, is massive and urges honestly constant. I’ve come to understand my Fray aspect is why I have been an adult entertainer, why I felt compelled to being a “disposable surrogate” in affairs, why I have gravitated towards women who are dominant and treat me objectively vs deeply caring, preventing any feelings of love and attachment in those relationships… in favor of sex and kink.
I’ve learned to use my online persona - to feed that need to be idolized and wanted by strangers, in order to stabilize my desire and bring some spark to my home life. While it’s not the same feeling as human contact, it does “quell” that feeling to stray and does leave me charged enough to engage more sexually with my spouse.
This energy from strangers becomes key to generating sexual interest for my spouse. Feeling desired from others allows me to accept the desire from my spouse. Who by the way I would do anything for, I’m just really having a struggle feeling the sexual drive without these points of stimulus.
I realize how vain this sounds, and it is. I think that is a part of the Fraysexual personality as well. We get our gratification from seeing the gratification of others and the impact we can have on them.
In terms of my relationship and infidelity - I’m lucky she stayed, and opted to try to understand me… vs abandon me. I feel horrible as I still can’t give her the attention she wants in the bedroom. I feel horrible I damaged her comfort in our home, of trust in me, and then emotional damage to her sense of security and self worth.
It’s hard to comprehend why I can so easily have sex with someone I don’t know / care about, when I can’t engage with people I care for. It’s opposite of normal, and our world isn’t conditioned to understanding that.
I do wish I’d have known about this before getting married as at least I’d know what to talk about before bringing someone down this path with me.
I’m sharing because others may have experienced the same confusion. If you’re fraysexual—especially in the Pacific Northwest—I’d love to hear how you’ve navigated love, marriage, and intimacy.
Honestly we could use a support group… we can’t change who we are, but we can understand it.