The Pandemic and It’s Connection To Relationship Distress
In March of 2020, it seems as if the whole world changed. With news of the pandemic spreading, business’s required their employees to work from home. For many couples, this was the first time they were together almost 24/7. Adjusting to this new life, maybe homeschooling kids led many couples to face distress in the past year.
Every relationship will experience stress but the pandemic has worsened this situation for many. There are common threads between the pandemic and relationship problems. Here are some of the top reasons why the pandemic is directly related to relationship distress.
The Pandemic Has Brought Many Changes To Our Lives
Starting from the beginning, the virus forced the world to change everything about it.
In a blink of an eye, we found ourselves working from home and homeschooling kids at the same time. Entertainment venues shut down, restaurants closed for dine-in, and we could no longer gather with friends. The outlets that many couples once had to either have time apart or bond outside the home were removed.
It’s been a challenge adjusting to these changes. Now in the latter half of 2021 with the delta variant spreading, there is a fear for many that we are facing another lockdown. It’s hard for any individual to navigate these transformations, but is especially hard for couples.
Navigating life during the pandemic and constantly having things shifted puts a lot of stress on couples. Whereas before there was routine and structure, it seems as if now all of that has been thrown out the window. This causes couples to feel stress as they never know what to expect from one week to the next. This can cause couples to lash out, become short with one another, or start arguments.
Financial Stress Is Sky High
Inevitably, money is always an issue for couples. So how is the pandemic connected to this?
Many couples faced financial hardship during the past year. From layoffs to complete closures of business, it left many struggling to know where their path would lead them to next. With a massive influx of unemployment filings, it left many without an income for months at a time as their paperwork was processed.
Furthering the stress is the fact that basic necessities such as food and rising gas prices in the past year have sky-rocketed. The cost of living is going up, but wages are stalled and not increasing. The financial pressure this puts on couples is unfathomable. Money is already a touchy subject when it comes to couples and the pandemic has only made this worse.
Differing Opinions Cause Stress On The Relationship
No couple will see eye to eye on absolutely everything. That is just a fact of life.
But, the pandemic has seemed to bring an onslaught of various opinions. From personal to political, it seems as if we are even more divided as a country than ever before. The reasons for this division range from the vaccine itself to pushing vaccine mandates from businesses on their employees and customers. Not to mention the political divide that extra unemployment benefits caused. Add in all of the other tumultuous events of the past year, well, no wonder tensions are so high!
This turmoil has trickled down to couples, unfortunately. With stress high and the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife, many couples find themselves arguing repeatedly about the right approach to the pandemic. And, it is no wonder, because so much of our world has changed because of the pandemic, it makes sense that no one can quite agree on the direction our country needs to take. Sometimes, the best thing to do in this case is accept that you and your partner may not agree on a certain subject and then let it go.
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Nobody saw the pandemic of 2020 coming. If you feel as if your relationship has suffered more stress in the past year, it could be because of the virus. If you need help with relationship counseling, please contact our office today.