Dealing with relationship stress 

September 11, 2021

Can Stress Ruin a Relationship?

There are few things that can significantly impact your relationship like stress. Far too often, couples ignore stress and dismiss it, thinking that they can get through it without problem to protect their marriage or relationship. However, ignoring stress is a big problem and it can significantly impact your future together. When you encounter stress in your relationship, it helps to find the various ways you can relieve that stress and protect yourself. Stress can in fact ruin a relationship and cause you to fight, argue, and experience tons of contention. 

If you have stress in your relationship, it’s vital to recognize what impact it can have on your relationship, some of the signs that you should look out for, and what can be done to fix it. 

For more info and inquiries:
Email: vrivera@wellnesspsychotherapistnyc.com
Phone: (917) 495-3858
Contact Page: https://wellnesspsychotherapistnyc.com/contact/ 

 

My name is Victoria Rivera. I am a New York City based psychotherapist with a focus on a holistic approach to help my clients. I have more than 15 years of experience as a therapist, counselor, meditation teacher, and nutritional health coach. It’s my goal to help individuals and couples reach their goals and live a more meaningful life. When you encounter stress growing in your relationship and the problems that can arise because of it, I will be by your side to help you understand ways to improve your situation and find a solution that meets your needs.

Call my office today for a free phone consultation, and I’ll help you understand your options.


The Effects of Stress On a Relationship

One of the biggest negatives regarding stress is the fact that countless people keep their stress to themselves. They bottle up their emotions, afraid that if they discuss them, it means contention or possibly hurting their partner. When someone keeps their stress to themselves, it creates distance between the two people in a relationship. One partner may feel that the other doesn’t trust them to get through the difficult times together. 

Individual stress is difficult enough to deal with in a relationship; however, couples who have stress may experience many other issues. They may not want to spend time together because of the issues that they are having. When one person in the relationship feels stress because of the other, it could be an indication that there is another underlying issue that is causing stress. When there’s an underlying issue causing the stress, it removes some of the connections that spouses have in the first place and leaves them arguing more often than not. 

Some couples find ways to do things on their own rather than together because the stress is more than they want to endure. They don’t want to argue, so they avoid time together, which can cause a disconnect and numerous problems within a relationship.

What Are 5 Emotional Signs of Stress?

Stress can be one of the more difficult things to deal with for any couple, causing emotional distress and trouble within every aspect of a relationship. You should recognize how stress in a relationship can emotionally impact each individual person in the relationship. Here are some of the emotional signs of stress that you should look out for: 

  • Mood changes: If you have stress in your relationship, it can become easy to get agitated or frustrated because of the smallest issues. Your mood can change quickly, impacting how you interact with your significant other and the loved ones you have around you. If you find yourself getting moody at minor requests, you can take this as a sign of stress. 
  • Overwhelming feelings: Some individuals who experience stress can feel overwhelmed; like the world is on their shoulders. Feelings of overwhelmingness can quickly impact someone’s individual mental health, which in turn can cause contention in the relationship.
  • Trouble relaxing: When you lie down at the end of the night, you want to feel as though you can relax. Unfortunately, so much stress can make it challenging to relax and find comfort. Your mind may go racing in the middle of the night, preventing you from sleeping.
  • Low-self esteem: When you stress too much, it can be easy to treat yourself badly, feeling as though you are not good enough. That can incite feelings of loneliness and depression, impacting your relationship significantly. 
  • Avoidance: You may find yourself avoiding situations or people where you feel the most stress. Unfortunately, in a relationship, that may mean your significant other.

Emotional signs of stress can also impact your cognitive well-being. For instance, you may worry constantly, focu on things that don’t matter, make poor decisions, and be pessimistic. 


Call my office today for a free phone consultation, and I’ll help you understand your options.


What Are 5 Physical Signs of Stress?

Along with the mental effects of stress, you may experience physical signs as well. Sometimes, the physical signs of stress can be similar to illnesses and more. The physical impact can intensify the mental impact, so it is crucial to recognize some of the signs that you should look out for and how to protect your physical well-being moving forward. 

  • Nausea: Nausea is one of the common problems associated with stress, but it often means more than just the normal upset stomach. Along with stomach pain, you may endure colds or infections due to a weakened immune system, headaches, and more. It can also result in ringing ears, cold and sweaty hands and feet. 
  • Loss of energy: You may experience loss of energy that makes it harder for you to do things during the day or at night that you once did. The lack of energy can also be attributed to lack of motivation. 
  • Muscle tension: You can feel your muscles tense up in different areas of your body. This tenseness can cause ongoing aches and pains, including chest pain, clenched jaw, and teeth grinding. 
  • Loss of sexual desire: One aspect of your relationship that can suffer because of stress is your sexual desire. Your love life can be significantly affected because of the stress you endure — and when it involves you and your significant other, your sex life may become non-existent. 
  • Insomnia: Along with your loss of focus and inability to think about anything other than what’s causing you stress, you may experience insomnia that keeps you up at all hours of the night. This can also impact your energy levels and cause nervousness. 

Finding a way to manage your stress is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your relationship. Remember though, there may be multiple ways that you can do this, and it’s crucial to work with a professional who will prioritize your options and seek the best solution for you.


Stress Management

Why You Have to Deal with Individual Stress to Improve Your Marriage

Far too often, there are situations that arise in a relationship that cause one partner more stress than the other. If this happens, the one partner who is stressing more can withhold that information from his or her partner. The stress builds, the anger grows, and it blows up on the couples. In these cases, it may be due to the stress from one party more than the other and the one dealing with the brunt of the stress should work on individual solutions as well as working on ways to improve the relationship. 

Mindfulness can be a perfect option for someone who is experiencing more stress than the other in a relationship. This is a way to focus on self and well-being to improve their mental health. It focuses on openness, connection, and communication. When you improve your own health and well-being, it significantly improves your chances of finding a solution for your relationship. 

Call my office today for a free phone consultation, and I’ll help you understand your options.


NY Couples therapy can help 

When you need a NY marriage counselor or couples therapist to help you navigate the stress in your relationship, you can rely on me and my office. I will work with you to understand what options you have through holistic and natural approaches so you can work on being the best you possible and reach your goals. You want a happier and more satisfying life, and when it involves your relationship, it’s vital to take steps to save it. 

Stress can absolutely ruin a relationship if you are not sure how to handle it. I’ll work with you so that you can create a plan that works towards your best interests. Trust that I’m your partner and I’ll go to great lengths to find a solution that helps you achieve your goals and save your relationship or marriage.

For more info and inquiries:
Email: vrivera@wellnesspsychotherapistnyc.com
Phone: (917) 495-3858
Contact Page: https://wellnesspsychotherapistnyc.com/contact/ 

Call my office today for a free phone consultation, and I’ll help you understand your options.

Carewashing

By Admin • August 21, 2024
As JUNE IS EMPLOYEE WELLNESS MONTH! Here an insightful article highlighting the issue of "carewashing" in corporate wellness programs. “Too many organizations with unsustainable “work hard, play hard” cultures believe that merely offering mindfulness training or yoga classes qualifies them as having a positive and safe culture. In reality, they are just checking the well-being box without addressing the underlying issues.” Companies that implement genuine wellness and mental health care initiatives lead to better outcomes for employees and the organization as a whole. If you're interested in transforming your workplace wellness approach, let's connect and discuss how we can make a meaningful difference together. #employeewellness #workplacewellness #corporatewellness

Quiet Vacationing

By Admin • August 21, 2024
I’ve read several articles on “Quiet Vacationing,” and this one does the best job of explaining the underlying issue: “Anxiety is at the root of this practice.” -More than 30% of workers said they were “too anxious” to ask for time off. -About 30% of workers reported concerns about being laid off. -More than a third were worried about the time off itself: about 30% didn’t want to use their PTO, and about a quarter didn’t have any PTO to take. In my personal experience, many employees say they don’t take time off because they will have to make up the work or work a lot before leaving. They feel guilty about leaving work, burdening their colleagues, or facing a backlog of tasks upon their return. It's understandable that they try to get ahead of this and take a vacation while staying connected to work to avoid feeling guilty and overwhelmed. We help companies understand these trends and work to implement genuine wellness and mental health care initiatives that lead to better outcomes for employees and the organization as a whole. Our approach ensures that wellness programs are integrated into the company culture, providing real support and fostering a truly positive and safe work environment. If you're interested in transforming your workplace wellness approach, let's connect and discuss how we can make a meaningful difference together. #employeewellness #quietvacationing #summerwork #workplacewellness

Battle of the Thermostat

By Admin • August 21, 2024
We are in the midst of a nationwide heatwave, and although I feel grateful to have an office with AC, the temperature is often too cold. This is not the first time, when I worked at a mental health clinic, the summers felt like winter with the office temperature often reading 65 degrees (yes, we had to use a thermometer to advocate for a more comfortable temperature!). I often had to wear sweaters and use a blanket to feel comfortable while working. Studies have shown that women tend to feel colder at work called compared to men, which can lead to discomfort and decreased productivity. On the other hand, men often prefer cooler temperatures and might find when it’s warmer it’s more challenging to focus and impacts productivity. This difference is often due to variations in metabolic rates and body composition. Understanding these differences is crucial for creating a comfortable and productive work environment for everyone. Employers should consider setting office temperatures that accommodate both genders, or providing flexible solutions such as personal fans or space heaters. As we continue to experience extreme weather, it's important to be mindful of how indoor temperatures affect our well-being and productivity. By acknowledging and addressing these differences, we can create a more inclusive and comfortable workplace for all! hashtag #employeewellness #workplacewellness