Why Small Problems Become Big Ones and What You Can Do About It In the relentless pace of modern life, relationships often become the neglected corner of an otherwise well-managed existence. Between work deadlines, family commitments, endless notifications and the
Tension, resentment, anger, arguments and power battles in relationships can quickly build up. They are the result of communication breaking down long before you become aware or willing to admit. Like a dripping tap, it builds up until the pot
It’s easy to point the finger and play the blame game when conflict arises. When tensions run high, feelings get hurt, and the words you settle on are rarely the ‘right’ ones. Combine this communication breakdown with a lack of
What happens when you discover your partner is having an affair? Does how you find out have an impact on how you deal with it? Or do you want to know all the intricate details of who, when, where and how often?
Many unresolved relationship issues contribute to high stress levels, and if left unresolved can lead to much bigger problems, including separation or divorce. What once started as small frustrations often become big irritations when ignored. Sometimes we go into denial
The polite fiction of ‘happy families’ is hard to sustain once the small irritations of daily life harden into deeper fractures. When those cracks can no longer be ignored, couples face the painful question of whether their relationship has run
Are you struggling to communicate your feelings in your relationship or at work? Do you feel you are not heard, acknowledged or appreciated? Understanding how you and your partner or colleagues process information could help. Communication is often cited as
Communicating your wants and needs may not come easy, especially when sharing how you like to express and experience affection. Sharing these parts of ourselves can reset our personal and professional relationships and help us begin to understand ourselves on
1 in 5 adults in the UK experience domestic abuse during their lifetime, and it can leave long-lasting psychological and emotional scars that complicate daily life, especially when it comes to re-entering the world of dating and meeting a new
When we hear about domestic abuse, we usually think of women. Most of us have read articles, heard news broadcasts or seen TV programmes about incidences of violence towards women. But men are exposed to it also. Men experience domestic
Gone are the days of lazy picnics in the park and gazing into one another’s eyes over a table you booked weeks in advance. You might escape the house once in a blue moon for a quick dinner washed down
Do you know who you really are? Do you feel lost or empty? If you met your true self would you like that person? Think about all the masks you wear. You most likely present your best ‘self’ to work
My wife and I have been together 18 years. Life was great; we got on really well, had fun, amazing holidays, a lot of laughter and were equally matched with our views on life. It all changed after our first son was born.
Romantic gestures are for life – not just for Valentine’s Day! Research has revealed that unassuming, everyday interactions – like bringing your loved one a cuppa in bed – can sustain relationships far better than lavish, once-a-year blowouts. Whilst you
Q. I’ve been with my partner 7 years; we have two daughters age 4 and nearly 6. Life has become a series of routines we perform every day, as if on autopilot – I take care of the children, house, cleaning,
You’d love to increase the intimacy in your relationship, but life always seems to get in the way. Between meetings that could’ve been emails, social engagements, parenting and endless life admin, you feel as if you’ve barely got a moment
Most couples whether married or cohabiting work full-time, some have children, others don’t. By the time you get home after a full day at work, having collected the children on the way (if you have them), you are already tired
Do you sometimes get overanxious or panicky and find yourself unable to deal with everyday life? Do you feel vulnerable helpless and afraid when faced with certain situations, as if your usual coping mechanisms have suddenly failed? Most of us
Are you at a crossroads in your career, relationship or life choices and don’t know which direction to go? Do you fear making the wrong decision? Or does your inner critic kick in a little too quickly drowning all possible
Are you keeping things to yourself? Is it difficult for your partner to understand what you are going through and provide the right levels of help and support? Do you find a busy day at work, a poorly child, frequent
Does your child exhibit stress, anxiety, mood swings and temper tantrums? Or are they stressed, anxious and withdrawn? Do they have a tendency to be hyperactive or lethargic? Have you noticed they don’t seem to show much curiosity to explore
Are you struggling with low libido and find that you have no interest in engaging with your partner and are always rejecting his or her sexual advances? Or have you experienced a sexual trauma in your past and are now
Are you friendly, generous, self-sacrificing, well-meaning and driven to maintain harmony whatever the cost? In a relationship, do you find yourself taking on the role of peacemaker, often resulting in a parent-child dynamic, where you sacrifice your own needs it
Does your partner undermine your confidence, put you down, crush your spirit, make you feel small, use sly jokes, criticise, blame or intimidate you? Are you often treading on emotional eggshells, doubting your own integrity, feel like you are kept
Do you believe you need to work hard, be successful and achieve to feel accepted and appreciated? Are you afraid of failure and worry about how you’re perceived? Like the proverbial social chameleon, do you adapt your life, beliefs and
Back in the 70s & 80s children and teenagers seemed to be more resilient than the current generation of future adults. Is it my imagination because I’m now older, a product of being a teenager in the 70s? Or are
The start of a new year is filled with the promises of new beginnings. It’s also the most popular time for couples to separate or file for divorce. There’s usually a journey with many stumbling blocks and relationship cracks that
When you experience something unfamiliar, frustrating or uncomfortable, do you find yourself overwhelmed by negative thoughts and a feeling that you are losing control? You could be juggling a large workload, relationship and family commitments, or feeling anxious about a
Q. My partner accuses me of cheating and looking at other women when we are out. She won’t say anything whilst we’re in a bar, restaurant or at a friend’s house, but as soon as we leave, she launches into a
Q. I’m happily married with three children; I have a good job, live in a nice house, have an amazing wife and love my kids dearly. Life at home with my family is good, we are happy. At work I’m
Do you fear the unknown? Or are you holding on to the past in the hope it will get better? Do negative thoughts creep in, take hold and become major worries about things you fear may happen? We all have
Are feelings of unworthiness and self-hatred limiting your life? Do you hide your real self, or sabotage situations and opportunities because you don’t feel you deserve to be happy? If this sounds familiar, then read on… ‘To be yourself in
As September begins, many youngsters are embarking on a new phase of their life – university. Parents prepare to wave good-bye to the child they nurtured for the past 18 or 19 years. Gone are the days when you tucked
Do you have a strong sense of right and wrong? Are you picky, judgemental, opinionated and impatient? And whilst you may be highly critical of other people, are you in fact much harder on yourself? Do you believe you are
We have all at some point experienced situations we believe we are unable to deal with because we feel they are beyond our realm of coping mechanism. They can leave us feeling vulnerable or afraid and when our self-confidence is
Do you compare yourself to others and instead of feeling good you end up with bouts of self-doubt, anxiety and believing you are not good enough? Are you obsessed with keeping up-to-date and following friends, family and colleagues on social
Do you often feel low, down or sad? Do you find yourself struggling to concentrate, lethargic, tired, stressed, angry, irritable or lacking in motivation? Have you lost enjoyment or enthusiasm for usual activities and started to withdraw from your social
We are born with a set of basic relational needs – acceptance, affection, security, attention, appreciation, approval, encouragement, respect and support. When one or more of these needs are missing in childhood, the child learns to adapt their behaviour in an
Are you self-absorbed, temperamental, prone to drama and at times feel helpless and hopeless? Do your moods change quickly when you are not appreciated, or your needs are not met by your partner, resulting in you feeling angry, ashamed, depressed,
Q. I’m 36, divorced with two sons. I was single for 4 years after I separated from my husband. Every week when my mother called she asked if I’d found a man. She’d give me a lecture about why I
Q. I’m divorced from the father of my two sons, now age 7 & 11. I’ve had a few failed relationships but in the last eighteen months met someone with whom I could be really happy. His wife died of
Q. My husband works from home since the first lockdown back in March, and I’ve continued going into work. I leave early in the morning and get back around 5pm. When I get in he’s usually in front of the TV
Q. My boyfriend and I have been living together for 5 years. The first two years were good, we went out, had fun. Three years ago he lost his job and since then he has struggled to stay in another
Q. My daughter was given her GCSE grades without exams like other students in this time of Covid. She was reasonably happy with the results. She was already stressed and anxious before the lockdown – she worked until late every
Q. My daughter and I have lived on our own since her father left when she was 18 months old. I’m the only parent and only family member she’s ever known. We’ve always been close; we tell each other everything
Q. My 14-year-old son Jason had been suffering with bouts of depression on and off since his dad and I separated two years ago. Before that he was a happy boy, playing football and being just like any other child
In my previous article I referred to how any relationship cracks you’ve avoided addressing before the lockdown can become great big chasms after being cooped up for nearly three months. Those fragments of frustration, quirky behaviours, lack of communication, misunderstandings
