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STRAINED RELATIONSHIP definition | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples
- American
STRAINED RELATIONSHIP meaning | Definition, pronunciation,...
- Strainedly
In a strained manner.... Click for English pronunciations,...
- Strainer
4 meanings: 1. a sieve used for straining sauces,...
- China
7 meanings: 1. ceramic ware of a type originally from China...
- Uneasy Relationship
UNEASY RELATIONSHIP definition | Meaning, pronunciation,...
- Trading Relationship
TRADING RELATIONSHIP definition | Meaning, pronunciation,...
- Proper Relationship
PROPER RELATIONSHIP definition | Meaning, pronunciation,...
- Enjoy a Relationship
ENJOY A RELATIONSHIP definition | Meaning, pronunciation,...
- Happy Relationship
HAPPY RELATIONSHIP definition | Meaning, pronunciation,...
- Want a Relationship
WANT A RELATIONSHIP definition | Meaning, pronunciation,...
- American
- Overview
- What makes a relationship strained?
- Signs You’re in a Strained Relationship
- Improving Communication in Strained Relationships
- More Ways to Improve a Strained Relationship
What makes a relationship strained?
Have you been feeling isolated, confused, or challenged in your relationship? If so, you may be in a strained relationship—an informal term for a couple plagued by problems that deny one or both partners their needs and wants. We spoke to a licensed clinical psychologist and a licensed marriage and family therapist to find out the best ways to improve your communication and heal your relationship long-term. Plus, we’ll dive into what exactly makes a relationship “strained” and how to tell whether you’re in one or simply experiencing normal ups and downs. Read on to learn more.
A relationship becomes strained when one or both partners aren’t getting what they need from each other due to a lack of trust, communication, or other issues.
To begin healing your relationship, work on communication. Check in with each other regularly and discuss the root cause of your tension and your feelings about it.
A relationship can become strained when one or both partners can’t get what they want or need from each other or the relationship.
One or both partners may not know what they want, or it may be that communication has broken down so far that neither partner knows where their relationship stands. In general, strained relationships are challenging or confusing and often involve conflict, disagreements, unaligned expectations or goals, and/or mismatched feelings compared to more stable relationships.
The chaos of a strained relationship often seeps into other areas of one or both partner’s lives and may negatively affect their career, personal life, and other relationships. Some aspects of strain, like conflict, criticism, or pressure, are also linked to increased depressive symptoms.
Relationship strain can come from factors inside the relationship (like a lack of trust, differences in priorities, non-reciprocal appreciation, or attitude) or external factors like financial problems or traumatic events.
When trust breaks down, you may feel distant from your partner (especially if you trusted them before and had your trust betrayed by something like infidelity or a disregard for the boundaries or “rules” of your relationship). A lack of trust can lead to emotional instability, conflict, or even the end of a romantic relationship.
Trust is one of the most critical components of a healthy relationship. If you feel as though trust can never be repaired, it’s a sign your relationship is strained and may not be salvageable.
Along with trust, healthy communication is a cornerstone of a healthy relationship. Communication is multi-faceted and each couple’s needs may vary, but a breakdown in communication can include one or more of the following:
A complete lack of general communication or communication that is superficial and lacks any personal or emotional content.
Keeping secrets from one another.
Withholding communication as a punishment (often considered a sign of veiled anger).
Jin S. Kim, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based out of Los Angeles, explains that “the most important aspect of building and maintaining a healthy intimate relationship is to work on healthy communication.” He goes on to say, “Having conversations and discovering each partner’s communication styles,
, getting in a regular habit of expressing one another’s feelings towards each other, identifying triggers that lead to escalations, and how to best address these stalemates depending on each partner’s communication style can all assist in reducing tension.”
Identify how the relationship or issue is affecting you before talking.
Chloe Carmichael, PhD, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who runs a private practice in New York City, emphasizes the need to examine the
Express love and appreciation toward your partner frequently.
Let your partner know you still care for them, even when you’re going through a rough patch. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Jin S. Kim says, “Communication is key, but isn’t always best conveyed through words alone. Having a discussion about how each partner would like to express and receive love (also known as “love languages”) can be valuable in not only learning about each other, but also to promote more effective communication.”
Once you know how to make your partner feel loved, use that knowledge to show your appreciation for them often. Jin S. Kim continues, “Regularly expressing love for one another can help maintain a long and healthy relationship. Also, don’t be shy in being creative and thinking ‘out of the box.’ I believe the element of surprise can go a long way.”
For example, if your partner’s love language is gift giving and receiving, come home from work one day with an unexpected bouquet or trinket to show you were thinking about them while you were apart.
Mar 21, 2023 · Here are five signs of a strained relationship to watch out for. 1. Communication breakdowns. One of the most significant signs of a strained relationship is a breakdown in communication. When a relationship is struggling, it can be hard to communicate openly and honestly with one another.
- 1. What does a strained relationship mean for the couple
- 2. Money
- 3. Appreciation
- 4. Attitude
- 5. Trust
- 6. Define strained relationship and what makes it different
- 7. Coping with strained relationships
- 8. Determine the root cause of the problem
- 9. Work together for a permanent resolution
- 10. Clean up the mess
Jul 4, 2022 · 6. You confuse love and obsession. Things don’t seem to work well in strained relationships, but the partners still believe they’re in love. However, you mostly stay back because of your obsession and possessiveness. These signs show that the dynamics of your relationship shifted from love to need.
Feb 28, 2024 · A strained relationship is one that is under a lot of stress, often due to conflict. This can be between individuals or groups, and the strain can come from many different sources. The relationship may be strained because of differences in opinion, beliefs, or values. There may be financial stressors or other external factors putting pressure ...
- When two people are in a relationship, they are connected by an emotional bond. This bond can be strong or weak, depending on how well the couple c...
- There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the term strained relationship can mean different things in different contexts. However,...
- When your relationship is strained, it can feel like the end of the world. But it doesn't have to be! There are plenty of things you can do to work...
- A strained family relationship is one in which the members of the family have difficulty communicating or interacting with one another. This can be...
Jan 11, 2022 · A strained relationship is when a couple experiences problems in their relationship due to a lack of adequate communication. Communication is the key to making any relationship work, so if there is a breakdown in communication, then the relationship is unable to grow or be healthy. People in strained relationships aren’t happy – they’re ...
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Jul 26, 2021 · Key points. There can be more to gain by trying to save damaged relationships than there is by giving up on them. Reaching out and being willing to listen to the other side is the first step. You ...
