Codependency and the Sexless Marriage / Dead Bedroom (Codependency Podcast Series)
From The Secure Husband by M. Bruce Abbott, M.A, CPC
June 9, 2026 · 18 min · Episode 170
About this episode
This episode explores the connection between codependency and the pain of a sexless marriage, discussing emotional survival, self-worth, and intimacy issues.
Why does a sexless marriage hurt so much? For many men, the pain is not just about sex. It is about what sex represents. Connection. Desire. Acceptance. Feeling chosen. Feeling loved. In this episode of The Secure Husband Podcast, we explore the connection between codependency and the dead bedroom. We talk about why intimacy can become emotional survival, why rejection feels so overwhelming, and why many men unknowingly tie their self-worth to their wife’s desire. We also discuss the pursuit-withdrawal cycle, hidden resentment, self-abandonment, attachment wounds, and how codependency can make a sexless marriage feel even more painful. In this episode: • Why dead bedrooms activate attachment wounds • How codependency turns intimacy into emotional oxygen • Why pursuit often creates more distance • The link between self-worth and sexual rejection • How resentment grows in sexless marriages • The difference between secure desire and codependent desire • What healing looks like without giving up on intimacy If this episode connects with you, schedule a free 30-minute consultation. We will talk about what is happening in your marriage and how coaching might help. No sales pitch. No…
People in this episode
Host: M. Bruce Abbott
Topics covered
- codependency
- sexless marriage
- intimacy
- self-worth
- attachment wounds
- emotional survival
Keywords
- codependency
- sexless marriage
- intimacy
- self-worth
- attachment wounds
- rejection
- resentment
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