Relationship Stress
Relationship stress is another form of stress we all experience frequently in our lives. Regardless of our age or the type of relationship we have with the other person – whether it’s our spouse, parents, siblings, children, colleagues, bosses, or colleagues, conflicts that lead to stress are bound to crop up from time to time.
Contributing Factors to Stress
Stress in a relationship can be caused by various factors including shouting, arguments, and constant criticisms. Each of these affects each person in the relationship negatively, thus causing stress. If you’re just dating, you also tend to get stressed about whether or not you want to continue your relationship with your boyfriend or if you want to make your relationship with them more exclusive. Individuals who are not in a relationship also face relationship stress, by worrying about finding someone to date and finding a compatible soul mate. At the same time, as the biological clock starts ticking away, the opportunities to date and form new relationships, and eventually getting married becomes increasingly pressing as we start growing older.
Marriages and Stress
Once you are married, you might have relationship stress regarding a whole new host of issues: relationship stress for husbands and wives includes worrying about finding time in the day for each other, caring and worrying about their children, and thinking about individual goals and how to get everything accomplished together without overshadowing the other person. Even difficult situations such as an affair or death of a loved one can lead to stress.
Contrary to what we think, being stressed all the time in a relationship is not the normal state of being. A good, strong relationship can do much to help reduce relationship stress. However, if the stress levels prove to be too much to handle, then the negative effects of stress can start rearing its ugly head in a relationship, causing strain and frustration. Because of this, it’s important to identify what is causing the stress in our lives in order to lessen its hold on us.
Signs that You Are in a Stressful Relationship
The amount of stress or anxiety we feel in the relationship varies according to how we react to a stressful situation. It helps to be aware of the physical responses you go through when you are feeling stressed and responding to the stress in your relationship. For instance, are your hands clenched into a fist? Is your stomach sore and muscles tensed? Have you forgotten to breathe or you’re experiencing shallow breaths? The way our body responds to stress is the first clue to handling the situation in a better way.
Solutions to Relationship Stress
We all respond to stress in a relationship the same way inside our bodies: we can all feel our hearts pounding, increase in blood pressure, and feel our muscles tensing up. Externally, however, each of us reacts to stressors in a different way. Some of us get angry; some of us get depressed, while a few of us show no outward signs at all. Those who tend to gravitate towards anger or irritability in a relationship should focus on stress relieving activities that can calm you down. For those who tend to get depressed, withdrawn, or moody, try and focus on activities that can mentally and physically stimulate and energize you. For those who tend to ‘’lock’’ their feelings during a stressful situation, you have to figure out what type of activity can help you to cope with the situation better.
Changing your attitude to a positive one and focusing and listening to what the other person in the relationship has to say are important if you want your relationship to grow. By taking the first step in the relationship and by responding positively to what the other person feels can change your relationship dynamics for the better and can start a new cycle of trust and love.