Being in a healthy relationship is a wonderful thing, but most couples know that maintaining a happy and healthy relationship requires hard work. There are many issues and circumstances that can cause a relationship to falter or even stall, leaving people hurt, unhappy, and miserable most of the time.
Chronic relationship conflict or stress can contribute to mental health conditions, like depression or anxiety, for one or both partners. Relationship problems can also affect one’s self-esteem and physical health or lead to feelings of guilt, shame, or anger. Sometimes addictive behaviors, like substance abuse, are employed by one or both partners in order to avoid confronting the source of the relationship conflict.
Relationship problems can also adversely affect family members, such as children, who may repeatedly witness relationship conflict between their parents.