What are relationship difficulties?
Having healthy relationships with others – be it friends, family, colleagues, or significant others – provides us with so many benefits, and is so important for our mental health and wellbeing. As we are all unique, it is impossible for us to agree with everyone on everything, and so naturally, relationship difficulties and tensions can sometimes occur. However, experiencing frequent or intense conflict in your relationships with others is a real and serious, but common issue, that can affect many aspects of your daily life, without you even realising it.
If you are finding it hard to communicate with your partner, are experiencing challenges with your boss or within work relationships, or struggling to relate to your family, therapy can be a safe space for you to discuss your issues, get to the root of the difficulties, and work through adaptive ways to resolve them.
Although the list below is not exhaustive, some signs that you are experiencing difficulties in your relationships, include:
- Unequal give and take, feeling as though you are always having to support the other person with no reciprocation, or you are overly dependent on the other person
- Feeling as though you are walking on eggshells, and certain topics cannot be discussed because the other person will react negatively and/or disproportionately, or not wanting the other person to mention certain topics around you
- Control issues, where you feel that you always have to do what the other person says, or want the other person to follow everything you do and say
- Feeling misunderstood or as though you are not being listened to properly, or you yourself not paying enough attention to the other person and not engaging with their feelings
- Emotional, verbal, or physical abuse. Do you feel as though you are often put down or ignored, or that arguments resort to violence? Or do you have a quick temper that can end in physical harm, or find yourself constantly criticising the other person?
If you feel that any of the above applies to you, or you would just like more information on how to resolve conflict in a healthy way, therapy can help you to get to the root of your difficulties and teach you clearer ways of communicating with others.
Which therapies might help?
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Schema therapy
- Cognitive analytic therapy
- Dynamic interpersonal therapy
- Narrative therapy
- Couples Therapy