relationships Tag

29 Oct

Posted at 16:13h in Addiction

Substance Use Notice: Couples therapy supports, but does not replace, individual addiction treatment. Stopping alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opioids suddenly can cause dangerous withdrawal, so seek medical guidance. For confidential help finding treatment, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 (24/7). If you are in crisis, call or text 988. If you feel unsafe in your relationship, call 911 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (text START to 88788).

Editorial Notice: This article is for general information and is not specific medical advice. Treatment programs and providers named or linked in this article are not warranted or endorsed by MedicalResearch.com or Eminent Domains Inc.

Addiction rarely affects only one person. When someone struggles with drugs or alcohol, their partner often carries a heavy burden: worry, broken trust, financial stress, and emotional exhaustion. Even after treatment begins, relationship strain can remain a powerful source of stress, and sometimes a relapse trigger.

That is why many outpatient addiction programs include couples therapy as part of treatment. Here is how couples therapy works and why it can make a meaningful difference.

22 Oct

Posted at 19:35h in PTSD, Social Issues

Mental Health Notice: This post is for general information and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. If distressing symptoms last more than a few weeks or interfere with daily life, talk with a licensed mental health professional or your doctor. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or text HOME to 741741. If you feel unsafe in your relationship, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. In an emergency, call 911. Providers named in this post are not warranted or endorsed by MedicalResearch.com or Eminent Domains Inc.

Have you ever felt your whole world flip upside down in a single moment? That's how discovering an affair feels to many people. One text. One hotel bill. One drunken confession. And suddenly all you thought you knew about your partner disappears.

Here's what most people don't realize: heartbreak doesn't just affect your heart. It can also affect you physically and mentally in ways that mirror post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

20 Sep

Posted at 11:05h in Counseling

Common Issues with Relationships 

A relationship can sometimes become overwhelming to maintain. While every couple experiences struggles, certain issues may indicate that professional help could be beneficial. Recognizing these signs early on can provide a couple with a better opportunity to invest in healthier communication and strengthen their relationship with one another. [caption id="attachment_63408" align="aligncenter" width="500"]counseling Source[/caption] Here are some key indicators that it might be time to seek couples counseling:

Communication Breakdown

One of the most common indicators that it's time to arrange couples therapy is communication dysfunction. When partners struggle to communicate without raising their voices, becoming defensive, feeling unheard, or experiencing escalating frustration, these are clear signs that assistance is needed.  Strong communication is a vital component of a healthy relationship. If discussions frequently devolve into arguments or silence, couples counseling in Denver can offer techniques to enhance communication skills and foster a better understanding between partners.

11 Sep

Posted at 09:55h in Mental Health Research
Maintaining healthy and fulfilling relationships can be challenging, especially in the fast-paced environment of a bustling city like Chicago. Relationship Counseling Chicago can be a valuable resource for couples and individuals alike, offering professional guidance to overcome challenges, improve communication, and rebuild trust. At our counseling center, we believe that every relationship deserves the opportunity to thrive. Our goal is to provide expert care to help couples and individuals navigate their unique emotional landscapes. [caption id="attachment_63253" align="aligncenter" width="333"]counseling_pexels-cottonbro-4098232 Source[/caption] Why Choose Relationship Counseling? Couples and individuals face a variety of modern pressures. From balancing busy work schedules to managing financial stresses, relationship strains often arise from external factors that can feel overwhelming. The decision to seek relationship counseling is a positive step toward emotional healing and growth. We offer a unique understanding of the challenges that urban life can place on relationships, providing a tailored approach that is both empathetic and effective.

19 May

Posted at 20:01h in Author Interviews, Psychological Science, Sexual Health
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Prof. Leif Edward Ottesen KennairDepartment of PsychologyFaculty of Social and Educational SciencesNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyProf. Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair Department of Psychology Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences Norwegian University of Science and Technology MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?   Response: Previous studies on intercourse frequency mainly focused on individual data, with no possibility to verify the perceived initiative or frequency. Couples data gave us that possibility. Previous studies had also mainly treated relationship quality as one measure. Therefore it was also interesting to distinguish between various aspects of relationship qualities to try to disentangle how these different aspects were related to frequency of intercourse. In addition we had some ideas about how a measure of sexual personality or sociosexuality—how interested in short-term sex one is—might be relevant for compromise within the relationship?

11 Jan

Posted at 16:35h in Author Interviews
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_46896" align="alignleft" width="185"]Gurit E. Birnbaum, Ph.D. Associate Professor Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya Herzliya, Israel Dr. Birnbaum[/caption] Gurit E. Birnbaum, Ph.D. Associate Professor Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya Herzliya, Israel  MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Sexual desire evolved to serve as a powerful motivational force that brings potential romantic partners together initially and thereby helps to facilitate sexual intercourse and pregnancy. As such, sexual acts may be devoid of affectional bonding, as in the case of one night stands. And yet, sexual desire may play a major role not only in attracting potential partners to each other, but also in encouraging the formation of an attachment between them. Nevertheless, thus far it has been unclear whether desire motivates merely reproductive acts, with attachment between partners developing independently, or whether desire directly contributes to the building of an emotional bond between newly acquainted partners. Indeed, although sexual urges and emotional attachments are not necessarily connected with each other, evolutionary and social processes may have rendered humans particularly likely to become romantically attached to partners to whom they are sexually attracted. The present research sought to provide support for the latter option.

05 Jul

Posted at 13:09h in Author Interviews, Social Issues
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_42946" align="alignleft" width="200"]Jessica Wood, MSc PhD Candidate, Applied Social Psychology Department of Psychology University of Guelph Jessica Wood[/caption] Jessica Wood, MSc PhD Candidate, Applied Social Psychology Department of Psychology University of Guelph MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: We are at time in history where we expect more from our romantic partners than at any point in our recent past (e.g., love, emotional and financial support, sexual excitement/fulfillment, friendship etc.). This can place pressure on relationships and make it difficult for each person to have their needs fulfilled. Some choose to opt out of of relationships altogether to avoid disappointment, and some even purchase a real sex doll for fulfilment. Another option is consensually non-monogamous (CNM) relationships, where sexual and emotional needs are dispersed among multiple partners, potentially decreasing pressures placed on a primary relationship. However, CNM relationships are stigmatized and often viewed as less stable or satisfying. In our study, we assessed the legitimacy of this perception by comparing relational outcomes among CNM and monogamous individuals. We also examined whether the motives a person reports for engaging in sex was important to how fulfilled a person was in the relationship, and how this was linked to relational outcomes (such as relationship and sexual satisfaction). That is, having sex for more intrinsic/autonomous motives (e.g., pleasure, intimacy, valuing sex) has been associated with higher relationship quality. In contrast, having sex for more extrinsic reasons (e.g., feeling pressured, wanting to manage feelings of guilt or shame), has been linked to lower relational quality.

08 Feb

Posted at 15:42h in Author Interviews, OBGYNE, Sexual Health, Social Issues
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: “Birth control pills” by lookcatalog is licensed under CC BY 2.0Marie Harvey, DrPH MPH Lisa P. Oakley, PhD MPH College of Public Health and Human Sciences Oregon State University MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Because decisions about contraceptives are often made by young adults in the context of their relationships and specific partners, the characteristics of that relationship and feelings about that partner will likely influence how those decisions are made. Many studies have previously investigated individual factors that affect contraceptive choice and when examining partner influences have used questions that were not specific to a particular partner. Intuition, however, suggests that feelings for a specific partner would likely influence one’s perception of risk for disease acquisition, and thereby, their contraceptive choice. So, it was important to us to look at the influences of each specific partner and how the unique dynamics of each partnership influence contraceptive use. In this study, we investigated how relationship qualities and dynamics (such as commitment and sexual decision-making) impact contraceptive choice above and beyond individual factors. We also used partner-specific questions. We found that both individual and partner-specific relationship qualities and dynamics predicted contraceptive use, but these factors varied by contraceptive method. For example, young adults who reported greater exclusivity with a specific partner and more relationship commitment were less likely to use only condoms with that partner. Additionally, individuals who felt they played a strong role in making sexual decisions in their relationship were also more likely to only use condoms.