Anxiety can take many forms. You might not have anxious, intrusive thoughts 24/7, but certain things can trigger them and make you feel practically paralyzed.

That’s often how it feels for people with social anxiety. You might feel “fine” more often than not. But even the idea of social situations can cause your heart to race and your thoughts to wander to the worst possible places.

Sound familiar?

Your partner should be the person you turn to when you want to discuss just about anything. Maybe you do feel like you share everything with them already, but have you ever thought about how often you actually talk about your relationship?

Discussing your relationship with your romantic partner isn’t just important—it’s necessary. Talking about your needs, wants, unresolved issues or things that make you happy will help strengthen your bond and improve intimacy.

The relationship you have with yourself is just as important as the one you have with your partner. If you’ve been in a romantic relationship for a while, it’s understandable and normal for things to shift over time. You might be out of the honeymoon phase, and maybe you’ve fallen into a comfortable routine or pattern with your partner.

Whether you’ve been in a serious relationship for a month, a year, or twenty years, you should never stop striving to be a better partner. Far too many couples become victims of “roommate syndrome,” where it starts to feel more like you’re living together as friends than romantic partners. Thankfully, you can do your part by actively taking steps to be the best partner possible. By putting in continued effort throughout your relationship, you’ll boost your bond, build intimacy, and help the roots of your partnership stay strong.

The words “healthy conflict” might not immediately seem to go together, especially when it comes to relationships. No one likes arguing or disagreeing with people they care about. It can lead to frustration, hurt, and even rifts in those relationships—romantic or otherwise.

You might not have a checklist for the people you date. That’s something that’s often better left for romantic comedies. But, while you might not want to go looking for someone who “checks all of the boxes,” it is important to make sure you know what you really want while dating. That might seem obvious, right? Well, not necessarily. 

Many people describe the butterflies and nerves they get when they’re in a new relationship. Some people still have those same “happy” nerves even after years of being with someone. But there’s a difference between butterflies and anxiety.

Divorce is not a black-and-white situation. It is a tumultuous time for both partners. There are many emotions involved, which can get messy and complicated. Many people commonly view divorcing men and women in a certain light.

No matter the type of relationship, it should have boundaries for both people. Whether it is with a romantic partner, friend, family member, or coworker, setting boundaries is really important.

Divorce is never an easy thing to decide to do. You spent time building a life with this person, creating memories with them, and planning for the future. Yet when it all comes crashing down, it can feel like a heavy weight is on your heart and soul.