Behavioral health

Relationships are an important part of your overall health and mental wellbeing. Like so many things that are good for us, they also take time, dedication, and effort to maintain. Everyone who is in a relationship (whether it’s intimate, friendship, family, or something else) is likely to experience challenges.

Some common relationship problems include:

• Lack of communication
• Arguing all the time
• Having trust issues
• Experiencing financial problems
• Spending too much or not enough time together
• Staying connected while apart
• Concerns over intimacy
• Changes in priorities or life goals

Healthy relationships are rooted in trust, kindness, compassion, conflict management, communication, and problem-solving. However, both healthy and unhealthy relationships can cause stress. It is okay to reach out for help, though.

If you find yourself:

• Not wanting to spend time together
• Experience arguments that lead to bitterness and anger
• Have negative or minimal conversations
• Constantly criticize each other
• Not willing to listen to each other

Professionals can help.

Similar to other types of stress, this can lead to changes like having a hard time sleeping, changes in mood, and even turn into more physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, and stomach pain.

Mental health experts at Intermountain can help you figure out if your relationship stress is a problem that needs more support. If it’s stopping you from getting things done on a daily basis or you’re not comfortable with how bad they’ve gotten, you should ask for help. You can start with a trusted friend or family member or talk to a doctor or mental health clinician for support.

If your stress is caused by abuse from the other person, whether it be verbal, emotional, physical, sexual, or otherwise, it is important that you get help now. You can find support to leave an abusive relationship by using the National Domestic Abuse Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788.