Here's How To Deal With Stress Spillover In Your Relationship
If you and your girlfriend have been fighting more since last year, you're not alone.
Stress is one of the leading causes of couple fights, and American therapists reveal that in 2020, tensions at home began running higher than usual due to the drastic change in our everyday routines. People are stressed and keeping their emotions bottled up, and even a small incident can trigger a fight between partners.
Stress can have a negative impact on your health, relationship and sex life, so to keep your bond strong, it's important to learn ways to deal with it in a healthy way. Here's how you can cope with stress spillover in your relationship and prevent arguments with your girl from escalating.
Comfort Her
These days, most fights occur because people don't feel supported by their partner during stressful times.
Many men internalize their stress, while some women may be more vocal about how they're feeling. To ease tension and provide comfort, you can treat yourselves to a couple of things that can help to relax you, such as a massage ball roller, which you can then use to give each other massages to ease stress. Sex can also be a good way to de-stress, so instead of fighting it out, why not head to the bedroom and give your honey some loving?
Apart from sex and investing in relaxing tools, provide support by just listening if your girl needs to vent, and comfort her with lots of physical affection. Don't be stingy with the hugs and kisses. Hugs are scientifically proven to reduce stress, and soothing, gentle touches can help to boost oxytocin, which is a chemical that makes us feel less threatened and more safe.
Doing these things can help improve the quality of your relationship, so you're less likely to rage at each other when the going gets tough.
Maintain Boundaries
To protect your relationship, it's important to maintain healthy boundaries from common stressors such as jobs, intrusive loved ones, or social media.
If you're working from home, have a designated time for doing work, and spend the rest of your day bonding with your girlfriend. Since you're spending more time at home, it's important not to be lazy - get off the couch and help her out with things that need to be done at home.
If you've got overly nosy or demanding friends or family members, let them know how important your relationship is to you, and assure them that you will ask for help if and when you need it.
Meanwhile, if you've been spending too much time ogling Instagram models and it's stressing your girl out, or if your girlfriend spends a lot of her time being passive-aggressive with her frenemies on Facebook, maybe it's time for both of you to put your phones away. Go on a digital detox with your girl, and spend some time outdoors so you can bond and reconnect with nature.
Take Care Of Yourself
It's difficult to be there for somebody when you're feeling drained, unhappy or hopeless. Take some time to care for yourself so you can be better equipped to deal with stress spillover in your relationship.
Go for a run, a hike, or a bike ride to improve your health and wellbeing – just 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity can do much to boost your physical health and relieve stress.
Instead of arguing with your girlfriend, go and play a few games of Overwatch, Mortal Kombat 11, or Persona 5. Even simple things such as shooting hoops in your garage, watching an action movie, or enjoying a bottle of your favorite craft beer can help to take your mind off stress. Try any of these activities the next time you're stressed to feel happier and more content, and to avoid getting into fights with your girl.
Stress is commonly experienced by people who are in a relationship, but don't let it get to you.
Find healthy ways to cope with stressors, and remember to communicate with your girlfriend so you can sail through tough times and come out of them stronger than ever.
