Blog: what to do when your relationship is struggling

Romantic relationship struggles can be hard. It’s normal to experience a range of emotions, amended this sentence Just remember, it’s normal to feel these emotions sometimes, but they will pass.

There’s no right way to manage conflict in hard relationships, but there are things that you can do to improve your headspace when your relationship is struggling.

Focus on your self-care

It’s surprising how relationship struggles can throw us off balance and make us feel like we’re not coping. Whether your issues are big or small they can have a huge impact.

It’s really important to look after yourself and find stuff to build into your daily life. This can increase our ability to cope with stress and make us better at managing conflict in our relationship.

There are tips for keeping a healthy headspace and awesome strategies for looking after yourself. Remember to make sure you do something that’s focused on your self-care.

Talk to someone you trust

Without regular and positive contact, most of us feel lonely. For some people, loneliness happens every now and then. But for others, it can become our regular enemy. If you’re feeling lonely in a relationship, talk to someone about it.

Sometimes parents aren’t always approving of relationships, but it’s important to consider why. Work at describing your situation in a way that will help them understand your relationship decisions. If your parents don’t agree with your choice of partner, it can be hard to talk to them about your relationship issues. But finding the courage and gradually working towards a healthy conversation is great for your confidence and self-esteem.

Talking to a close friend about your relationship can also help. Friendships change as you get older, so if you don’t talk to your old friends, try forming new friendships. You could join a book club, sporting club or find other activities you enjoy.

Working through your relationship challenges

Relationships can be hard work. If things get tricky, there are a few ways you can work through your relationship struggles.

Communicate

Each relationship brings its own challenges. Communicating with your partner about why you’re struggling in the relationship could be a great first step to resolving issues. While it may be difficult to start a conversation, you can practise effective communication techniques to get your point across and start a conversation.

One strategy could be to ask your partner a relevant question, listen to their response, then offer your opinion. Once you’ve listened, you can then offer your side of the story.

While being honest with your partner may not be easy, it can help to work out your problems together. Remember that all relationships have their ups and downs, but going through a rough patch doesn’t mean it has to end. Sometimes it can get better – but it takes effort, understanding and trust.

Respect your differences

It’s important to respect your differences in a relationship. You might find that differences in culture, religion or opinion can be the source of difficulties or friction in relationships. Instead of ignoring or blaming the unfamiliar, make an effort to understand it and embrace it.

Take a break

Don’t be afraid to spend some time apart too. Taking a break in your relationship may help you both think about what you want, who you want to be with, and what you can do to make it work.

Consider what’s best for you

When you’ve found someone you love spending time with and doing life with, things can feel great. While it’s normal to experience the ups and downs of a relationship, if you find issues coming up constantly, or if you’re experiencing bigger issues like relationship abuse – this can affect your headspace. Think about whether the positives of your relationship outweigh the negatives. If you’re often feeling sad, hurt or angry, it may be worth ending the relationship. Doing this may even come with some unexpected positives.

Relationship troubles can sometimes leave you with feelings of low mood and self-worth. Seeing a mental health professional can also help you focus on you and what you need, by tackling negative thoughts and talking through your relationship problems.