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Coping with Relationship Stress During Holidays

Posted on 17. Dec, 2009 by ChiroPam in Relationships

During the Christmas season, some couples find themselves in what seems to be an ongoing battle of bickering. Family stress, financial stress, and being overwhelmed with trying to “do it all” can be tough. How do you keep holidays from hurting your relationship? And, if your relationship is already in trouble, how do you (and should you) put thing on pause for the holidays?

When you have children, your focus is typically on giving them a memorable and happy holiday and when you have to manage to work, pay the bills, come up with extra money for gifts, do extra cooking  and cleaning, bake, shop, wrap gifts, attend holiday gatherings, deal with the in-laws and the relatives, etc, it can be tricky. Is it any wonder that you and your spouse are barely speaking, not having sex, and contemplating (at times) if it’s all worth it? Holiday stress is a huge instigator for therapy and separation.

How do you cope with holiday stress and its impact on your relationship?

Holiday stress can make even the happiest couple snipe at one another and if a relationship is already in trouble, the holidays can be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back.

What  can you do? It might be most important to try to get through the holidays before making any decisions. Perhaps some time and a bit of relief after December is over will be enough to help you both communicate. Perhaps doing a ‘post mortem’ will help you plan better next year in terms of sharing responsibilities and deciding what holiday plans make you both happy.

Seeing a couples’ counselor might help. Seeking individual counseling could also benefit you.  Reading up on suggestions for stress reduction and effective communication with your partner could help you both now in the midst of an argument as well as in the future when the holidays creep up again.

Want help with relationship trouble? Check out Katie Todd’s web tv show for helpful advice and consider writing to Katie to ask questions that could help you with relationship issues.

Tags: holiday stress, relationship stress, Relationships