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Are you getting worried about the impending recession that all the world’s governments keep talking about? Do you and your partner fight about money on a reoccurring basis? Is your relationship a bit unstable and you are not sure how it would survive if either of you lost your job? Can your relationship handle the stress brought on by an economic downturn?
Everyday in the news there is talk about the inevitable recession coming based on the trade wars between the United States and China. The constant fluctuation of the stock market is putting many people on edge and effecting consuming confidence. Individuals and couples are starting to evaluate the safety or lack of safety in their economic circumstances. Couples are looking at ways to build in financial safety and redundancy in case something happens to one of their jobs.
For other couples, especially those that have a sole bread winner, the impending recession creates new stressful topics of discussion. They may be discussing the return to work of the stay-at-home parent. They may looking a new way to cut costs.
Money is often a leading source of fight. Is this happening for you? What would happen if the recession hits? Can your relationship handle the additional stress if you faced economic hardships? What if you are an expat and loose your job? How would handle the loss of your employment pass? Do you have a back up plan to cover all the costs?
Money creates fights for couples because everyone has a different meaning and relationship with money. Is money about safety to you? Is money about choice? If you and your parent don’t share the same meaning about meaning, this can lead to fights. Money also evokes big feelings. Our feelings affect how hear and process information. It can influence our decision making. So if money is causing big feelings that you can’t communicate effectively to your partner this can lead to major conflicts.
Too often, people think of therapy only for when a crisis hits and a measure of last resorts. This is unfortunate and often not the best way to utilize all the benefits therapy can bring to a couple. Instead, prevention is the best course of action. If you are having communication issues around values, money, saving and how-to parent, therapy can help you resolve these differences.
Therapy can help you strengthen your relationship and prepare for the economic difficulties that everyone is facing. The worst thing for any individual is divorce. It reduces wealth and lowers the quality and standard of life, especially for women.
Do not wait for a crisis to hit before taking control of your relationship. Consider how you can strengthen and improve your relationship so that you are ready for whatever economic reality comes.
Therapy will help you learn how to recognize your feelings and thoughts in order to better communicate them to our partner. Therapy will help you learn better communication and conflict management skills. Imagine a situation where you and spouse can have effective talks that resolve issues and lead you to feeling closer.
Therapy provides a structured, safe and healthy relationship to help a person be able to recognize and process their feelings to make informed and healthy decisions and behaviors. If you want your life and relationships to better, don’t wait. Help is there for you.
Ms. Fontana is a relationship counsellor specializing in helping people with their relationships whether it is dating, marriage, parenting or with their extended family. Her clients call her approach practical and found solutions to their problems. Ms. Fontana has obtained her Master Degree in Mental Health counselling from the United States and is a USA Nationally Certified Counsellor. She is also a Certified Choice Theory Reality Therapist and is USA trained Sex Therapist.