Tag

high maintenance relationships Archives - SYMBIS Assessment

Nurturing Family Harmony During the Holidays

By In-laws & Family No Comments

It’s almost Thanksgiving, and for many couples, the holidays bring opportunities to nurture family harmony. It’s common for couples to experience family conflict during the holiday season, especially since there are so many events and gatherings to attend. You’re likely spending more time together than usual. There are also traditions to consider – and traditions tend to carry a lot of emotion for those who hold them dear. However, it’s possible to emphasize harmony over conflict when you gather with family for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year. When you approach family gatherings in a loving way – even difficult…

Read More

Help! My Parents Dislike My Spouse – But We Live With Them

By In-laws & Family No Comments

Living in a multi-generational home with your parents or in-laws can be both a blessing and a challenge. Sometimes, couples experience seasons in their marriage that require them to share a home with family members. While this can be helpful during transitional periods, it can cause strain long-term–especially if your parents don’t like your spouse. It’s often difficult to share a home with either of your parents. You’re all adults with your own lifestyle, preferences, and rhythms. It can be difficult for two couples to combine their lives this way, particularly when there’s tension in the home. Still, you might…

Read More
My Spouse Makes Me Feel Awful About Myself. How Should I Respond?

My Spouse Makes Me Feel Awful About Myself. How Should I Respond?

By Conflict, Marriage 3 Comments

Does your spouse make you feel bad about yourself from time to time? Feeling hurt by something your spouse has said or done is heartbreaking. You’ve tried your best to keep them happy, but they still seem to find something critical to say. Your self-esteem might have taken a blow, or you might be feeling hopeless about your situation. It’s possible for the most well-meaning spouses to hurt one another’s feelings on occasion. That’s bound to happen over the course of a long life together. But what happens when your spouse’s criticism makes you feel badly about yourself? Humans Need…

Read More

I Resent My Spouse. How Do I Overcome It?

By Conflict 3 Comments

Resentment damages marriages. It can take time for resentment to build in a relationship. Often, you don’t know it’s happening until it has already taken root. By then, those resentful feelings have invaded many areas of your marriage. Resentment comes from longstanding anger and feelings of disappointment in aspects of your relationship. When you feel upset at your spouse on a regular basis but feel that you can’t do anything to alleviate the problem, you begin to internalize that anger. Eventually, it morphs into resentment. Later, it could transform into contempt toward your partner. There are many reasons why you…

Read More
How to Navigate Personality Clashes with Your Spouse and Kids

How to Navigate Personality Clashes with Your Spouse and Kids

By Relationships 6 Comments

When we marry, we aren’t always fully aware of every nuance and facet of our spouse’s personality. As we get to know one another, we learn more about what makes them tick–and what aspects of their personality might clash with ours over time. It’s a normal part of living and sharing intimacy with another human being. The same holds true for your children. We may not realize it, but it’s very possible that our children’s personalities could clash with ours. That’s not normally something that a hopeful or new parent is prepared for, but it’s a reality in many families….

Read More

Help! My Spouse Always Sides With My In-Laws. What Can I Do?

By Conflict, In-laws & Family 2 Comments

In most marriages, it’s common to have an occasional clash with in-laws or other extended family members. After all, we’re all human, and it’s inevitable that we will disagree with one another from time to time. But what if these clashes are happening on a regular basis, and your spouse always seems to be on your in-laws’ side? What do you do then? Some relationships naturally have more friction than others, and that can add unnecessary stress to your dynamic over the years. It can also be taxing on your marriage, especially if your spouse defaults to taking his or…

Read More

How to Cope with a Backstabber

By Conflict, Relationships 7 Comments

“Loyalty means nothing unless it has at its heart the absolute principle of self-sacrifice.” Woodrow Wilson Being victim to backstabbing is downright painful. Backstabbers put on fronts that appear accommodating, loyal and even sacrificial. Then, without warning they strike. There’s many reasons why backstabbers act as they do. They’re selfish, have a lack of self-esteem and a sense of powerlessness. They’re also likely hiding feelings of inadequacy and feel resentful of what you have that they don’t. Whatever the cause, there’s no good or right reason to be a backstabber. Sometimes, having a backstabber in your life is unavoidable. You…

Read More