Relationship Issue - Know More About It!

More than 70% of sexual problems are because of psychological reasons. Relationships are never easy – all relationships go through ups and downs, and are often faced with challenges, small and large. Simple day-to-day stressors can strain a relationship and threaten its stability.

Common Relationship Issues

Many couples face issues communicating effectively. Typically, relationship concerns include -

• Routine conflict
• Barriers to communication
• Financial difficulties
• Lack of trust
• Emotional distance
• Sexual intimacy issues

Sometimes, for unmarried couples, marriage itself is the issue at hand, where one partner is willing to settle down or is subject to familial and social pressure in doing so but the other partner is reluctant to marry.

Psychological Issues Contributing to Relationship Problems

Chronic stress and mental health issues like anxiety or depression can lead to conflict between partners. This may even have a major impact on your sex life. Mental health issues can strongly affect arousal and definitely ruin the mood sometimes. Anxiety, depression, or such related mental health struggles can make it difficult to stay relaxed and enjoy sex, overshadowing it with intrusive distractions and a host of worries. Reportedly, over 70% of sexual problems are because of psychological issues.

Over time, the struggle with mental illness in a variety of forms can hurt your self-esteem and make them feel unworthy of sexual attention. Sometimes, one or both partners employ addictive behaviours, for example, substance abuse, to avoid confronting the root of the problem leading to relationship conflict.

Relationship problems not only affect couples, but also those people who are close to them. For instance - children who repeatedly witness relationship quarrels and conflicts between the parents.

Therapy for Relationship Conflicts

When relationship issues start interfering with everyday functioning, or when there is uncertainty about continuing the relationship in one or both the partners, relationship counselling or therapy is advised.

A relationship counsellor/therapist is a trained professional who conducts a close interactive session with the individual or couple facing relationship issues. During the session, the therapist communicates with them, discusses their relationship history and the troubles, empathizes with their problems and helps them work through those using various techniques.

Often, couples/individuals approach a relationship counsellor hoping that he/she might be able to help in some way. Some couples hope to enhance intimacy, improve communication skills, or learn to navigate new grounds in their lives. Others may expect the counsellor to act as a mediator and solve their arguments.

Different therapy approaches are designed to address relationship problems. It is unlikely for a relationship counsellor to take sides or recommend that you end the troublesome relationship. Instead, they allow the procedure to naturally unfold. Trained professionals help partners and individuals communicate their thoughts, needs and emotions clearly while listening to the other partner attentively. For counselling to solve relationship problems significantly, each partner should commit to the session for as long as it continues. Each of the partners must demonstrate honesty and willingness in making the relationship work, and accept personal accountability.