How to Cope With Stress and Anxiety in Relationships

As vital as they are for us, relationships can often cause significant stress in our lives. You might feel you need to give a different amount of attention or love to your partner than you did earlier. There might be some event or situation which can stress you out. In such instances, you might find it difficult to deal with your partner, which can trigger anxious thoughts. ​

What Causes Feelings of Stress or Anxiety in Relationships?

If there has been any distressing or unpleasant situation, the cause of your stress can be easy to identify. It could be a personal incident or an argument where you or your partner might have said something out of anger. Here are a few factors that could cause stress or anxiety in relationships:

• You’ve developed an anxious attachment style. You might constantly doubt yourself and the relationship you have with your partner. This could be traced back to a similar attachment with your parents or caregivers.
• You might struggle with low self-esteem. This might make you overthink and also trigger feelings of worthlessness. 
• Another factor could be a lack of communication between you and your partner. There could be several misunderstandings or issues that could be resolved by communicating your feelings and thoughts with them.

How to Spot Signs of Stress and Anxiety in Your Relationship

Often, it can become difficult to determine if your relationship is causing you stress.

• You overthink before speaking and over-analyse even the smallest problems.
• You’re unable to resolve arguments.
• You worry every time you meet your partner and don’t enjoy the time spent with them.
• You’re always worried and stressed when you think of your relationship.
• Your relationship is negatively affecting your health.
• You’re always worried that your partner might choose to end your relationship. 

​Ways to Manage Stress and Anxiety in Relationships

While thinking of relationships, there can be many ways to manage stress and anxiety depending on the situation or intensity. Often, you may feel you need a few days away from your partner to feel better. Other times, you might feel you need a suitable way to lessen stress and anxiety. Here are a few ways to manage stress and anxiety in relationships:

• The first step is to accept that there is some amount of stress and that your partner is unaware of it. However, while doing it, you should also try to step in their shoes and understand their perspectives or thoughts.
• You can then recollect and write down all the points that you think could be possible reasons for the stress.
• Understand and remind yourself that your partner might think and react differently. When this happens, give them space to think about it.
• Take time to talk things out with them and listen to what they have to say as well. Let them know that their feelings and thoughts and valid.

Seeking Help for Stress and Anxiety in Relationships

While following these steps, know that every relationship is unique in its own way. While some ways may seem to work, others might not. Seeking help to resolve conflicts can help reduce stress and manage anxious thoughts. Therapy can help you understand the root cause of your distress. It can also be effective in finding what works best for you and your partner, creating a healthy relationship.

Relationships are a two-way road. It might often get difficult but it is always essential to hold on to relationships that make your life worthy and help you feel better.