Sexual intimacy is only one type of intimacy. Intimacy has many components, including time spent together, experiences shared, and empathy developed with someone. While all of these types of intimacy can feel good, sexual intimacy affects relationships differently. The messages we receive about intimacy in our society tell us that we should be as close as we can with our partner(s). We should know everything about them from what they ate for breakfast to their darkest secrets. That type of closeness may be driven by control and anxiety and is unsustainable in a long-term sexual relationship. When partners are too close it smothers the sex out of the relationship. When intimacy is driven by a want for closeness rather than a need for sex, relationships have the space they need to flourish.