Even the strongest relationships can fall victim to stress and conflict; as we gradually grow closer to someone, our differences begin to emerge, and it’s possible that our opposing views and opinions can put a rift between us and the person we care most about. Couples who have been together for a long time are also prone to stagnation. After the butterflies settle and fireworks vanish, many people begin to neglect their relationship, viewing it as an unchanging, expected facet of their lives.
Relationships, no matter how long they’ve been going, aren’t stagnant. Two living, dynamic individuals are coexisting and creating something together. This means that you have to continually put effort into nurturing and tending to your relationship if you want your bond to stay strong.
If you’ve lost connection with your significant other and aren’t sure where to turn, here are three aspects of relationship rehab to consider.
Improve Your Communication
You might find it difficult to voice your grievances with your partner without it dissolving into an argument. Perhaps there are many things you wish you could say but can’t seem to articulate. A couple’s therapist can help bridge the gap between a distant couple and help you two come closer together by seeing things from one another’s perspective and communicating respectfully and productively.
You should also prioritize discussion in your relationship. Make sure you ask your partner about their day, explore their interests and take advantage of any opportunity to just connect with them. It’s natural for long-term partners to feel like they know everything about their partner, but there’s always something worth talking about with someone you love. Listen to them speak and remember the days when you hung on their every word. There’s more to them than even you know.
Get to Know Each Other Again
Become friends with your lover and watch your relationship transform. Implement weekly date nights so you have something to look forward to, and make sure you do more than just go grocery shopping or hang out around the house. Try new activities that encourage communication and collaboration; focus on rediscovering your partner as a person.
Evaluate Your Sex Life
If you don’t feel like intimacy plays as big of a role as it used to or something is now missing, you may want to talk to a sex therapist. Many couples who are struggling to connect emotionally fail to connect in the bedroom as well and need help from erectile dysfunction treatment meds. Conversely, you may feel like the only time you feel close to your partner nowadays is when you are sexually intimate.
Creating an open discussion about sex in your relationship will help build trust, demonstrate vulnerability and bring the two of you closer together. A counselor is a great mediator for these types of sensitive subjects, and a licensed sex therapist can help you both uncover any emotional blockages that are hampering physical intimacy.
Don’t forget the little things. Sometimes, the most profound thing you can do during times of emotional turmoil is to just hug your partner. Listen to their heart beat. Feel the warmth of their body against yours. Tell them you love them. Let them know how much you truly care about your relationship, and sit down together and make a plan to fix your biggest challenges. With teamwork and mutual commitment, you can overcome almost any problem and find that your struggles are really opportunities to bring you closer to one another.
