How does Anxiety influence Couple Relationships?

Do you think that your relationship with your partner is being affected by episodes of anxiety? We all experience anxiety at some point, but it is important to identify if this emotion has become chronic and is affecting some aspect of your life.

When it comes to relationships, anxiety can lead you to engage in behaviors that can affect the bond you have with a person in the long run.

In this article I am going to tell you about some ways in which anxiety can present itself in your relationship, so that you can identify it and take action on it. You will also find some recommendations so that you can work on your anxiety or help your partner navigate it.

• Related article: "The 5 types of couples therapy"

Ways Anxiety Can Be Manifested In Your Relationships

These are the most representative:

1. insecurity and mistrust

Insecurity and distrust in relationships can take the form of jealousy, constant questions, and the need to control the partner, which can lead to conflicts in the relationship. This is because in some cases anxious people have a hard time trusting.

Some signs that insecurity and mistrust caused by anxiety are present in your relationship:

• Are you afraid that your partner I cheated
• You push the person away for fear of rejection
• You avoid relationships to avoid suffering
• You think too much of your partner's conversations or actions

2. Difficulty in communication

Another consequence that anxiety can have is the difficulty to express yourself clearly and effectively within the relationship. This causes a communication problem that can end in misunderstanding or misunderstanding.

Poor communication can also be reflected in:

• Lack of respect
• Not knowing how to apologize
• frequent discussions
• relationship dissatisfaction

3. Difficulty connecting emotionally

Anxious people can present great difficulty in showing their feelings and needs with a partner, causing a lack of emotional connection with the other person.

4. Lack of compromise

The fears and worries caused by anxiety also represent a threat to the relationship. This is because anxious people have a hard time committing to a relationship. That lack of commitment can in turn destabilize the relationship., causing even more anxiety.

• You may be interested in: "Commitment in the couple: 5 keys to achieve stability"

How to overcome the negative effects of anxiety in the couple relationship?

Like everything, if identified in time, these negative effects caused by anxiety can be reversed. The key to achieving this is to understand the problem, communicate it to the couple and seek solutions together..

Couples therapy is an excellent tool to acquire strategies that help to work the insecurities, fears and mistrust, so that the stability of the relationship can be recovered. Anxious people may be tempted to avoid the problem. But it's important to know that this is only a temporary solution and often ends in a bigger conflict.

That being said, I recommend dealing with anxiety, even if it feels uncomfortable at first. If you need a third party to help foster better communication, feel free to work with a counselor, either as a couple or individually.

How to help your partner if they are suffering from anxiety?

Living with anxiety is hard, but loving someone who is living with anxiety can be extremely overwhelming and emotionally draining because of the way your partner's feelings affect your daily life.

The truth is that many experts in the field of psychology agree that it is possible to help your partner who lives with anxiety while you take care of your mental health.

Here are some tools that you can use to your advantage and that of your partner:

1. identify the symptoms

something as simple as find the way in which anxiety manifests itself in your partner's day-to-day it can help them strategize to deal with it whenever it appears.

2. Validate their feelings

Even if your partner's point of view doesn't make sense to you, try to validate their current emotions, fears, and concerns. This simple act of compassion can make your partner more receptive to the help you can offer.

3. Suggest and encourage your partner to seek professional help, do not force it

Help from a professional is key to overcoming anxiety, but always try to offer it as a possibility. You can even share names and contacts of psychologists. What you should not do is schedule the appointment for him or her. A person with anxiety must have some degree of responsibility for therapy to be effective..

4. Take care of your own mental health

In order to help your partner with their anxiety, it is important that you cultivate your own mental health. To do this, try to create routines and activities that feed your mind and soul with positive feelings and emotions.

In summary, it is true that anxiety can represent a threat in any relationship, but if the problem is recognized, work hand in hand with the couple and include the help of a professional, the chances of establishing healthier and more stable relationships are quite high.