Relationships come in all forms: some for convenience, others purely for fun, the short term, or, bluntly, great sex.
Serious relationships however, have different expectations and needs. Money, lifestyle and family plans all come into the mix
Psychotherapist and relationship coach Lucy Beresford says that in struggling relationships couples often avoid genuine, constructive conversation.
A quick “You okay?” followed by “Yeah, I’m fine” is surface-level small talk.
“That’s not communication, that’s stonewalling,” says Lucy.
Nobody goes into a relationship wanting to see it fail, so instead of talking about issues silent tension builds up.
It’s important to pay attention to how you feel. Are you walking on eggshells around certain issues, or purposely avoiding topics because they feel too risky to discuss?
Lucy says if you feel “we’re not on the same page anymore” then you may have outgrown the relationship.
“When your relationship is wearing you down rather than lifting you up, the chances are there is an imbalance there,” she says.