Relationship Conflicts:
Many people are suffering from relationship conflicts. At times it can be hard to identify whether you are suffering from relationship conflict that has is now impacting your health and well-being.
Some common warning signs are:
- Yelling
- Crying
- Feelings of being alone or isolated
- Chronic criticism
- Assuming the worst
- Not listening
- You stopped doing things you used to love to do together
- Defensiveness
- Discussions lead to out of control arguments
- The walls keep getting bigger
- Contemptuous communication
- “You” language with directives
- Universal statements
- Ultimatums
- The Silent Treatment
- “Gaslighting”
- Feeling that you are always wrong and your partner is always right.
While there are many warning signs, there are numerous things you can do to relieve symptoms include educating yourself about relationships. The book “The Five Love Languages” by Chapman is highly recommended. Doing things together like exercising, tending to a garden, or building something together is another activity that could relieve symptoms. Other things you can do to increase relief are:
- Being mindful of when you need to have your time apart
- Don’t sweat the small stuff (pick your battles)
- Lower your expectations (with expectation comes disappointment)
- Practice gratitude when your partner exceeds expectations
- Be patient
- Don’t attack personality characteristics
- Compromise
- Leave the past in the past
If you’re having difficulty relieving your symptoms, you can also seek medical interventions such as:
- Individual Counseling
- Couples Counseling
- Naturopathic Medicine
- Seeing a Psychiatrist
- Diet and Exercise Changes
These techniques do not replace medical advice. Speak with your healthcare practitioner if you think you are suffering with depression. The DSM-5 strives to conceptualize an illness as a spectrum, with a domain that should be construed as normal.
