I can relate to this. I felt for years that craving a compliment about how I look, smell or feel to my own husband was me being needy or vain in some way. So I lived 15 years (still am but I’m in the process of moving out) with it.

There’s been no kissing or love making for years. I’m only 45. I convinced myself that stuff was for young lovers and that all marriages are like this one. I stopped even wanting that myself I’ve learnt to quieten that “voice” that wants to be cherished by someone.

So lonely and you start to feel grateful for even the slightest gesture. A random drunken hug, an arm that flops over you in the night, a warm “look” of approval when you offer to make his favourite meal... you cling onto those moments and try to leech every second out of how good it feels to be wanted.