Is stress ruining your relationship? 5 tips to manage stress so it doesn’t end your relationship. Written by a licensed couples therapist in Long Beach.

How to manage stress so it doesn’t ruin your relationship:

What is stress? Stress is your response to unpleasant situations when you are faced with something that you fear or know something is about to happen that will neither be in your control nor a welcoming thing for you. You’re threatened, overwhelmed, or unable to cope with that mental or emotional pressure.

When people are stressed, they feel uneasy and irritable, have racing thoughts, and lose their temper more easily. Stress can also lead to physical problems, such as headaches, muscle tension, and dizziness. The body releases hormones, known as “stress hormones,” to prepare for the “fight, flight or freeze” response.

Does arguing with your partner become a stress reliever?

Humans need to vent this steam off somewhere to get back to normal quickly. Whenever you’re stressed, you might unknowingly initiate a fight with your partner, projecting all your stress, panic, and anger at them, helps you relieve your stress. And for the argument’s sake, it might do that, but at what cost?

Stress is highly contagious, and if one person starts projecting it on their partner, that stress will only transmit to their partner. Loud actions and breaking things can help blow your steam off. But, these are extremely unhealthy ways to deal with your stress.

You might get rid of your stress for the time being, but that will be coming at the cost of your partner’s well-being. In the long run, this will add to the reasons for your stress.

Arguing prepares your body for battle. When you are in fight-flight-or-freeze mode, your body undergoes physiological changes that decrease your ability to focus and think logically. While occasional fights are normal and healthy, frequent arguments can quickly spiral out of control. Instead of resolving issues, disputes can become a source of resentment and make it difficult to think clearly.

What are productive ways of dealing with stress?

When you’re stressed, you are filled with a lot of energy produced to fight off any situation. But, oftentimes, these situations do not require you to fight off physically, and all that pent-up energy makes you agitated and volatile.

To release this pent-up energy at the moment when you are stressed; you can try the following healthy ways to cope:

1. Exercise
2. Yoga
3. Running
4. Deep breathing
5. Getting involved in a physical activity that will make you tired (nothing violent)

To pre-emptively train your body to deal with stress better:

1. Get a good night’s sleep.
2. Include yoga in your daily routine
3. Practice meditation
4. Practice mindfulness
5. Practice control of your emotions

Whatever your preferences, use your stress energy to burn some calories rather than burning your relationship.   Call Long Beach Therapy at 562-310-9741 to get support.