What are relationship issues?

If you find yourself repeatedly dissatisfied with your relationships, particularly those with important people like your parents or spouse, you may notice patterns that leave you feeling frustrated, unseen, or regretful. Do any of these things sound familiar? Consistently putting other people's needs ahead of your own, avoiding conflict by expressing agreement with the opinions or actions of others, seeking frequent reassurance from those you care about, withdrawing when relationships feel hurtful or demanding, or becoming caught in recurring arguments that never seem to resolve. Although these patterns cause you pain, they likely developed for very understandable reasons. Many people learn to these ways of relating in response to difficult, unpredictable, or emotionally invalidating experiences earlier in life, and thus these behaviors may have once served an important coping function. Over time, however, these patterns can interfere with healthy communication, create distance in important relationships, and leave you feeling misunderstood or unfulfilled. Relatedly, relationship issues are associated with diagnoses of anxiety and depression, as well a history of trauma. 

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Common Signs of Relationship Issues Include:

• Often feeling uncared for or unloved by important figures

• Chronically prioritizing the needs of others over oneself

• Challenges with communicating feelings directly

• Struggling to accommodate the emotional needs of others

• Seeking constant reassurance that a loved one is committed and available

• Struggling to implement or hold boundaries with people causing distress

How can therapy help with relationship issues?