Relationships come in many different shapes and sizes. Love doesn’t always look a certain type of way. What works for one person doesn’t always work for the next. What seems appealing won’t always be the goal for another couple.
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Divorce is never simple. Even if both parties know their marriage must end, it is still difficult. According to researchers, findings show that women reported to be more satisfied with their lives after divorce. Even when there are negative impacts, like familial or financial, women still report being happier.
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The foundation for any relationship, whether it be familial, friend, or romantic, is trust. That is the driving force for maintaining strength no matter what life throws at you. Infidelity is one sure way to break down trust, causing rifts in a relationship.
Infidelity doesn’t just mean having a physical affair. It can come in different forms, one of which is emotional infidelity. While nothing physical has happened, emotional infidelity is still considered a form of cheating.
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Stressful situations, whether in your personal or work life, tend to be met with a stress response. Anxiety makes you feel on edge and can negatively impact your ability to do day-to-day functions.
High-functioning anxiety looks a little different and may be less noticeable to the outside world. Even those who experience it may not be aware of it themselves.
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For starters, congratulations! You have taken a step forward onto new and exciting adventures! You should be so proud and hopefully celebrating the next chapter in your life.
No matter how great of an opportunity it is, and maybe due in part because of the opportunity, it is likely you have the new-job jitters. Change and new opportunities can be intimidating.
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Not every relationship is created equal. Despite your best efforts, some relationships involve toxic people and are, therefore, doomed to be toxic and possibly traumatizing.
When you share a relationship with someone, whether a significant other, a family member, or a close friend, you generally form a bond with them. Having this bond should be a positive result, but often with abusive relationships, there is a negative bond called a trauma bond.
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Let’s talk about sex, baby! In the beginning, it’s easy to be hot and heavy. As a relationship progresses, it’s only natural to have waxing and waning moments of attraction and drive. It’s also possible that other biological factors could be working anti-magic in the situation. More often for women, but men aren’t off the hook on this one either. Daily stress can influence a lot. Work distractions can have an impact. Hormones, age, medical issues, and even environmental factors can affect libido.
Regardless of why your libido may be running low, here are some natural ways to add spice to your love life.
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A healthy childhood should be filled with innocence and a sense of playfulness. Fun is being had. Memories are being made. Relationships are being formed. In a perfect world, everything should be beautiful and affirming. Unfortunately, life is far from perfect, and situations occur that can cause childhood trauma experiences. Physical or emotional abuse, neglect, death of a loved one, violence (either to another family member or to the child), divorce, or bullying even can overwhelm a child.
As a trauma event happens, it leaves an emotional scar. Childhood traumas can be more complicated because children don’t always have the faculties, knowledge, and awareness to process them properly. As a person ages, these traumas can leave a lasting impact.
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You may have heard the term before. It often gets thrown around in conversation amongst friends as a joke, whether it be with each other or in reference to a relationship. Codependency, however, is a more dysfunctional term and can lead to negative outcomes in a relationship. It refers to emotional and behavioral factors that can impact two people’s ability to have a healthy and productive relationship.
One person tends to be an over-giver (or caretaker), while the other is more of the receiver (or advantage-taker). This can be present in a romantic relationship, with a close friend, with family members, or with colleagues. It can spiral into an addictive-like back-and-forth behavior and become abusive or destructive.
Here are signs you may be in a state of emotional codependency.
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Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy, or EMDR therapy, is a type of therapy intervention used to treat mental health conditions stemming from trauma. Originally used to treat PTSD, it has had an expanding role in other areas like anxiety, OCD, and depression.
It falls under the umbrella of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. Under the guidance of a trained professional, you incorporate specific eye movements in order to reprocess your brain’s way of thinking. The goal is to help reduce a traumatic memory’s grip on a person who has experienced a traumatic event.
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People are creatures of habit. This applies to our day-to-day activities, thoughts, feelings, and actions. When it comes to relationships, people tend to develop types. They build attraction off of types. They choose partners based on types. When a breakup happens, there’s this tendency to find a new partner who still fits that same mold.
Growth occurs when you learn about yourself and determine what lesson can be learned from a previous failed relationship. This information can be key to creating a healthy future relationship.
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All children hear the adage “back in the day” from the older generations. We were all warned, “wait ’til you’re older,” but most of us just laughed it off as a stuffy sentiment. Now you’re in your 20’s. You probably never expected to have this thought cross your mind that life was easier when you were younger!
But when you think about it, life was pretty easy as a teenager. The worst thing you had to worry about was your parents laying down rules and turning in homework assignments. Aside from that, it was fun, games, and hanging out with friends. If you’re longing for the past and dreading the future, you might be experiencing a quarter-life crisis. The good news is this is a normal part of becoming an adult.
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The white picket fence. The happily ever after. It’s what dreams are made of.
Until it isn’t.
From a young age, many children are taught that the “norm” is for their parents to be married, live together, and remain that way until the end. Not every partnership stands the test of time, resulting in divorce. Maybe you experienced it growing up as a child. Maybe it occurred during high school years or even later in your life. Having divorced parents can pose issues at any age.
Divorce is generally an ugly word per social norms, but it has become commonplace. Sometimes, it’s even a healthy option in all reality. Being an adult doesn’t make the process any easier when your parents decide to separate. Honestly, it can be harder. Here are some tips for managing your grief.
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Love is a battlefield…who do you want standing next to you for this fight called life? If you are in the dating game, a little self-reflection can go a long way. Here are five things to consider as you search for a new relationship.
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According to the Beatles, money can’t buy you love. Per some old proverb, money also can’t buy happiness. The downside is money can cause a lot of stress and negatively impact many aspects of life. It’s intertwined into so many parts of our health and well-being that it isn’t something to brush off.
These days, with inflation and uncertainty, financial management is more important than ever. How a person relates to money can significantly impact their mental health.
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Parents spend 18 years raising their children, from infants to young adults. While 18 years seems like a long time, it feels as though it has flown by for many parents. Now your children are ready to spread their wings and soar. They are going away to college. Maybe they are moving into a place of their own and starting a career. A major shift in life, as you know it, is occurring. Transitioning from an active parent role to more of a supporting force in their life is 100% normal. It’s exactly what you wish for your children—to grow up and lead a successful life. That doesn’t mean it won’t come with a sense of loss, sadness, and anxiety.
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Do you find that your relationships are always short-lived? Are you always finding faults in your partners? Always giving up at the first opportunity? You could fear commitment, or being in a long-term relationship.
Commitment is a term we use for a broad spectrum here. Commitment may not just be about marriage or relationships. It can also be about dedicating time and effort to something, such as a job, a hobby, a goal, or if you are thinking ahead about your future.
Fear of commitment involves demonstrating fear, or unwillingness to commit to anything long term. This is mostly about relationships. You could be wary of making long-term plans with your partner such as having children, or meeting their family, as this can make you uncomfortable, or try to avoid it as much as possible.
So, why do we fear commitment, and what are the signs that you fear committing?
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Adulting is hard! Read that one more time. Adulting is hard. When children transition to young adults, many of the comforts and supports that are so familiar begin to disappear. The expectation of being independent can be overwhelming in today’s world. There is no shame in saying that being a grown-up can be scary sometimes.
What should seem like an exciting time is often viewed with nervousness, uncertainty, and fear. Half of all mental illnesses begin by age 14. Roughly 30% of young adults struggle with a mental health disorder. Around 40% go untreated. Anxiety about being a grown-up isn’t as uncommon as it may seem. Times have changed, and with that evolution came more stressors and pressures.
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Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health conditions today. It is estimated that one in fifteen adults is likely to experience depression or depressive episodes during their lifetime.
Depression is a very complex mental health disorder that can be very difficult to experience. The symptoms can range from mild to severe, and you may experience depression for months or even years at a time.
Due to the severity of this condition can have, you may be concerned about being at risk of depression. With that in mind, let’s consider the causes, symptoms, and what you can do to reduce the risk of experience long-term negative effects from depression.
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You just had a baby! Your little bundle of joy has finally arrived, and now you are entering this new chapter. It should be the time of your life. Yet here you are, feeling the baby blues.
Yes, a new baby can indeed be exciting, rewarding, and show you a love and connection like you have never had before. It is also hard and stressful. Life as you knew it has drastically changed. Society doesn’t often highlight the difficult parts of parenting, yet it is a common reality most new parents face.
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