Whether it’s your first holiday season with your partner or your 20th, holiday tension can bleed into your relationship leading to relationship stress. Even though the holidays are seen as the time to connect with your loved ones, they can lead to the opposite, with couples feeling more distant from each other because of the stresses from the holidays. There are multiple causes for this rise in conflict with couples during the holidays.
Reasons for the strain in Relationships
Finances
Disagreement on finances can cause tension in a relationship anytime, but the holiday season can exacerbate these struggles. Spending on gifts or travel can spark disagreements over a range of issues, including how much to spend, who to spend it on, and what to buy.
Family
Familial conflict, whether it’s with your own family or your partners’, can intensify during the holiday season.
Internal Anxiety
The pressure to create a perfect holiday season can lead to increased stress and anxiety, which may leave you feeling overwhelmed and cause you to lash out at your partner.
How to handle this stress
Budgeting
If one of your main sources of stress during the holiday season between you and your partner is money, sitting down and discussing your financial standing can help eliminate this stress. Setting a certain amount of money aside for gifts, traveling, or events can give you and your partner peace of mind when it comes to how much you’re spending.
Boundaries
Setting boundaries can be important if there’s tension between your family or your partners’. These boundaries can be in the form of limiting how much time you spend with people that cause you stress, not going to events that they attend at all, and letting your partner know so they can be on the same page.
Communication
If your stress is burdening you, talk to your partner about how you’re feeling and what they can do to help. Whether this involves allowing you to vent or just seeking comfort from your partner, communicating these feelings can help you and your partner work on a game plan together.
Time Management
Establishing time for just you and your partner can keep your relationship healthy during the holiday season. Especially when your time may be consumed by other priorities such as spending time with family, social events, or personal time. Managing your time and setting time aside for each other can keep your partner from feeling like they aren’t a priority.
Therapy
Attending therapy, whether it’s individual or couples therapy can help you learn techniques to cope with the overwhelming stress caused by the holidays. And, couples counseling gives you a safe space to discuss your problems and have an impartial professional help you solve any relationship problems you might have.
While you and your partner may have big plans for the holidays, you might be concerned about the friction the holidays can bring. This can not only ruin your plans but also make your relationship increase in tension. Attending therapy can help your mental health and the health of your relationship. If you’re looking for individual or couples therapy Lifecare Wellness Counseling has professionals experienced in helping not only your relationship but your well-being. Reach out and book an appointment today.
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