Growing up in an extremely conservative family that is very much for marriage even through struggles, I always considered that this would be an easily attainable thing in life. But having been married 10 years and with 2 kids and no intimacy for the past year, I no longer understand why I thought this would be an easy thing to attain. I have since started masturbating in the past few months and have struggled with severe guilt about this. I feel so isolated from my friends knowing I carry this burden.

Before anyone asks, yes my husband and I have discussed our lack of intimacy and he claims it's because of stress from work and promises it is just a phase. I love my husband with all of my heart and have no desire to speak to men about this.

Am I alone in my thoughts on this? Does anyone else struggle with this as well?