What Should You Do About Your Boyfriend Problems?
So, you're experiencing some problems with your boyfriend. It could be the way the two of you are getting along or that you are having trouble trusting them or interacting with each other. It could be any number of things, but regardless, you want to make sure that you're figuring out the problem and working on a solution right away. You don't want boyfriend problems creating even more drama in your life or resulting in a breakup for the two of you, but if you don't take care of them, it can do all that and more.
Learning To Communicate
What you need to do first is to learn how to communicate with your boyfriend. Your boyfriends problems will generally stem from a lack of communication between the two of you, no matter what else might be going on.
If you don't trust him or have trouble with just about anything else, communication is probably part of the culprit. If you don't talk to your partner or don't talk to you, it causes other relationship problems. By learning to communicate, you'll be able to improve the relationship and the issues you're having (though it might not make them go away entirely).
Communication isn't the same as just talking, however. You can't just talk to your partner and expect everything to be okay. Communicating is about more than just speaking up yourself. It is about learning how to speak in a way that your partner can hear and understand you. It also involves learning how to listen in a way that will help your partner feel both heard and understood. By communicating effectively, you'll feel more connected and more important in the relationship, crucial to its success.
Another essential thing to note when thinking about effective communication is that your boyfriend may not communicate the same way as you do. It is critical to your success that you try to understand this. You may consider an apology to be receiving flowers or other gifts while he considers it to be a hug or a nice gesture. There is no need to worry about saying things "the right way" or hurting each other's feelings. It is imperative to your relationship that you invoke an even playing field.
Whenever the two of you are talking, remind each other that you express your feelings without the worry of being judged or looked down upon. That will be key in communicating. If you are holding anything back from each other, it will inevitably cause much worse issues than the original problem, which can also perpetuate your disdain for each other and ultimately end the relationship altogether.
Using Communication As A Tool To Fix Your Relationship
So, you've learned to communicate with your boyfriend, you hear and understand each other, but perhaps you are still running into issues. Another important thing you can do in your relationship is to apply changes based on the problems your new communication skills have revealed.
For example, if your partner were to suggest he feels unimportant because you spend too much time on your phone or at work, you may want to consider doing more activities as a couple, such as going for a nightly walk or watching TV together. You could also plan lunch together on days to get that extra time into bond and work on your relationship.
The more you two are willing to apply changes, no matter how big or small, the more successful you will be in staying happily together long term!
You can also apply the skills you've learned to convey to your family and friends that you are working on your relationship and make sure they understand not to express any harsh words toward your significant other. It is common to have issues with your partner and go to your support system for advice and help.
When you do this, be sure to let them know that while you value their assistance, they mustn't hold any of the problems you bring them against your partner. This can cause further stress on your relationship, and it is much more difficult to control issues generated from outside sources than it is to solve just between the two of you.
Another issue many couples come across is trust. Your partner or yourself may have committed an unfaithful act in the past, or you may not have been completely honest with each other regarding an incident that should have been communicated more effectively. In situations like these, it can be very helpful to be sure you are letting your partner in on any activities you may be doing and reassuring them that you are regretful about the actions you took which hurt them.
Eventually, with hard work and determination, you will be able to build that trust back up, and your relationship will come out stronger than ever.
Making Extra Time To Reconnect
A common complaint of couples that begin having relationship problems includes making time for one another after the relationship is no longer new. Once the novelty of your new partner has worn off, it can become challenging to find things to do together while still going about our busy day-to-day lives. A good rule of thumb to apply when encountering this type of issue is to set time aside at least once a week to go on a date. This can be as simple as cooking a normal dinner together and eating while watching a show you both enjoy, or if you prefer, it can be an outing to a local restaurant or movie theater.
Many couples agree that more frequent time spent together can remind you of why you chose to be with each other to begin with and can rekindle the flame, allowing you to be much more tolerant of the other person. It is normal to drift apart from each other with the daily hustle-bustle of paying bills, working, or taking care of a family if you have one. It is important to remember that it is not your partner's fault that these things happen.
If you are harboring resentment in your heart regarding this, try wiping your partner's slate clean and give them a chance to better the relationship with you. It's apparent that you don't want to end the relationship, so why not give your 100%?
Get Some Help With Boyfriend Problems
If you and your partner have been communicating effectively, it should help you resolve your problems, but it won't take care of them entirely. Even with the most diligent work, including talking to your partner, applying changes, and taking extra care to be sure you are connecting, issues can seem too big to handle between the two of you.
At this point, you will need to consider getting some professional assistance. You want to make sure that you have someone out there to listen to you and work with the both of you to solve the problems you're having. That's where a therapist or counselor can come in.
Many couples are fearful about finding a therapist to work with and believe it is a sign of weakness or an embarrassing process to go through, but it is quite the opposite! A therapist is a college-educated professional that will act as a neutral observer to help you and your partner talk about what is bothering each of you and how you would like to resolve it.
A therapist will help you understand one another and help you reach a healthy solution to the problem you're facing. He or she may also suggest techniques that you and your partner have not considered that would be very beneficial to your relationship.
Additionally, a therapist can help to mediate your conversations. For example: if you or your partner has a difficult time containing your anger while communicating, a therapist can help the two speak to each other healthily and respectfully rather than with negativity. Hurtful words spoken in anger can cause permanent damage to a couple. So, it is crucial to have someone to remind you to speak with purpose and without disdain.
After all, you want to make sure that you and your partner aren't going to have the same problem in the future. You'll also want to ensure that you don't end up with a different challenge because you haven't resolved the first one properly. That's not going to make for an improvement in your lives.
If you're not sure about finding a therapist for yourself and your partner, you definitely want to take a look at ReGain. Regain is an online platform that can help you connect with a qualified therapist who understands your issues and wants help. You'll be able to find out more about therapists that are available to you, and you'll be ready to start the process of getting the therapy you want right away, without the hassle of driving around or wasting time in waiting rooms.
After all, who wants to scroll through the yellow pages looking at all those options and then have to narrow down how far you want to drive? With Regain, it will be easier for you to decide who you want to help you because you get to meet with your therapist online, from the comfort of your own home.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Are The Signs Of A Failing Relationship?
Relationship problems can cause conflict in all parts of your life, even if they don’t come from a romantic relationship. You can have relationship problems with friends, family, and other loved ones as well.
Common signs of an endangered or failing relationship might include:
- Frequent arguments
- Yelling, belittling, bullying
- Abuse of any kind
- Lack of communication
- Distance or isolation from others
- Cheating or lying
- Crossing boundaries that you’ve verbally expressed
- A lack of respect for you or your career
- A lack of respect for things that you love
- Destroying your property or throwing away things that were important to you
- Addiction to a substance, like drugs or alcohol, would require professional help, and you can’t solve the issue on your own
Any of the above warning signs or similar issues might indicate that there’s a bigger problem at hand. If you feel like you can address some basic problem-solving issues, it’s worth your while.
Sometimes, though, we raise issues or encounter obstacles that we have a hard time problem solving on our own. That’s why a relationship counselor can be such a valuable asset: not only are they well equipped with problem-solving tools of their own, they also have the training to help your specific situation.
What Are The Most Common Problems In A Relationship?
Relationship problems can take lots of different forms, but some are more common than others. Below is a list of common relationship problems that people face:
- Communication (or lack thereof)
- Arguments
- Infidelity
- Financial stress and money
- Growing apart/changing lifestyles
- Children and family stress
- Sexual problems (sexual problems can be related to infidelity as well)
Even healthy, good relationships encounter bumps in the road sometimes. There are all sorts of life stressors that can raise issues, and sometimes our own behavioral patterns can cause conflict over time.
For those with more serious, long-term issues in their relationship, basic problem-solving techniques may not be enough. If you don’t feel satisfied with your relationship, are dealing with similar issues over and over, or are just unsure of what to do, a relationship counselor can be a great resource.
Relationship counselors are great at providing resources and information about sex relationships and dating, but they also can be there for you personally. Fun and free relationships are often possible to acquire through some dedicated effort, but not all relationships are worth saving. The advice of a professional is sometimes very much needed.
What Are The 5 Signs Of An Unhealthy Relationship?
Good relationships deal with conflict and relationship problems from time to time, but there’s a distinct difference between normal conflict and unhealthy conflict.
There’s no universal guide for identifying an unhealthy or abusive relationship, but here are some common warning signs to look out for:
- Your partner is overly controlling, harsh, or rude: this can include trying to control where you are, who you hang out with, what you wear, and more. Name-calling, insulting, and other similar behaviors are also a red-flag.
- Your partner has an unhealthy, intense dependence on you. This goes beyond normal clinginess; it can cause a lot of stress for you and the resources you both rely on.
- Constantly breaking up and getting back together.
- Manipulation, lying, accusing each other of infidelity, or other similar behaviors
- Isolation from others; if your partner tries to interfere with your other relationships or cut you off from others, it’s indicative of a bigger problem.
Any of the signs discussed above can make a relationship toxic and go beyond what you can accomplish with basic problem-solving.
What Are The Signs Of A Toxic Boyfriend?
Many things can make a relationship toxic, and when we grow accustomed to them, it can be hard to identify them as problematic.
Here are some common signs of toxic relationships or abusive relationships:
- Cheating, lying, manipulating, or other dishonest and hurtful behavior
- Name-calling, bullying, insulting
- Isolation from others, sometimes by force
- Pressuring you into actions, you don’t feel like or don’t want to do
- Physical assault
- Frequent arguments, breaking up and getting back together.
If you suspect you’re in an abusive relationship or a toxic relationship, it’s time to seek outside help. These sorts of issues go beyond the problem-solving capabilities that most of us have, and if someone is a threat to your health or safety, these sorts of things should be taken seriously.
Sex relationships and dating are full of ups and downs, but toxic relationships aren’t worth maintaining.
What Is A Failing Relationship?
Relationship problems can take all sorts of shapes and forms, and they’re not just limited to a romantic relationship either. A failing relationship is usually one that, for one reason or another, is causing more harm than good; it might involve lots of direct conflicts, or it might not.
Ask yourself this: Is being with this person making me a better or worse version of myself? Am I making this person better or worse? Are we happier and healthier together or apart?
If you’re focused on making your relationship with someone better, a good first step is to try and understand why the problems began in the first place. Problem-solving skills that target communication and honesty are often those that are the most successful.
If you need help making your relationship better or problem-solving, a relationship counselor is an amazing resource. These trained professionals have the skills to help you address your unique issues and situation so that you can form a more healthy, fun, and free relationship.
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