Relationships aren’t always smooth-sailing, and if you hit a rough patch, it doesn’t mean that you’re in the wrong relationship. It just means that the relationship needs to be worked on, and changes need to be made.
Below are some of the most common issues two people can face and how you can help the situation.
Lack of Communication
Failure to communicate in a relationship can lead to your bond eventually breaking down, as well as many other issues arising, such as lack of trust or inability to resolve problems. Some individuals struggle to communicate and openly talk about their feelings. Whether it is your partner failing to communicate, or yourself, the issue needs to be addressed.
Better communication can begin with small steps. This can include openly talking about your worries in a calm way rather than keeping them inside and presenting them as a discussion rather than an argument. Better communication can come from asking your partner more questions to encourage them to speak, rather than dismissing them if they seem in a bad mood. You could also create more opportunities for communication such as spending mealtimes at the table talking rather than watching TV in silence.
Suffering from Addiction
Addiction comes in many forms, whether it’s substance addiction, gambling addiction, or even sex addiction. Addiction in any way can have a huge negative impact on your relationship, whether it’s your partner suffering with it, or you yourself. The main thing to remember with addiction is not to ignore the problem and speak openly and honestly with your partner where addiction is involved. There needs to be support within the relationship to deal with overcoming addiction, and you should also seek outside help. It’s also crucial to remember that an addicted person cannot help their behavior, and blame should not be dealt out.
Sex addiction or porn addiction can have a huge impact emotionally on your relationship, as this kind of addiction can make the other person feel inadequate, as though they are not satisfying their partner, or even worry that their partner is going to stray. With so many personal emotions involved, seeking professional, unbiased, and neutral help is a good idea with this form of addiction. A sex addiction therapist Houston is specially trained to get your relationship back on track.
Lack of Intimacy
Intimacy in a relationship doesn’t just mean physical and sexual – it also means the small gestures and the emotional connection between you and your partner. If you feel distant from your significant other, never talk about your emotions and hardly ever have sex – if at all – this is all a red flag for intimacy issues.
Confronting this issue can be tricky, especially if your partner is unwilling to acknowledge there is a problem. Lack of physical intimacy also leads to other psychological issues such as body worries, lack of self-esteem, and trust issues.
You could try to encourage more intimacy by taking time during the week out of busy schedules to set a ‘date night’ – this could make time available to spend in bed together, and talk more openly without work and life distractions. It’s also a good idea to go to bed at the same time whenever you can. It’s always a good idea to speak to your partner about how they feel regarding lack of sex, and if there is anything you can do to improve the situation. In severe cases, you could consider outside help such as couples counseling, to address the issue.