Navigating Marriage Challenges: Common Pitfalls

When you plan a wedding, the last thing anyone wants to think about is the marriage ending when it’s just beginning. By now, most people are aware of the high rates of divorce. Whether you’re just starting your life of wedded bliss or are struggling to hold your relationship together, knowing about the common reasons marriages fall apart can help you make changes that ensure you and your partner stay together.

Differing Backgrounds & Viewpoints

By the time you get married, you and your spouse have lived separate lives for many years. Your childhood, college experiences, previous relationships, and other life events all influence who you are today along with how you respond to your spouse. Many marriages fail when two people don’t fully understand each other’s viewpoints, especially when it comes to big decisions that involve parenting and managing finances. Working with a therapist can help you begin to see the world from each other’s viewpoints and come to compromises that benefit your marriage.

Unrealistic Expectations 

Few things are more beautiful than a starry-eyed bride and groom who radiate joy on their wedding day. While you might have jumped into marriage with your eyes wide open, you might still have started with a few unrealistic expectations. For instance, some newlyweds expect their partners to serve as their entire social circle, but everyone needs friends and hobbies outside the marriage to feel their happiest. Or you might have thought your spouse would bring in more income or do more work around the house than he or she does. Finding a way to accept reality or make changes each of you can live with is easier with the help of trained marriage counselors.

Lack of Intimacy

In a marriage, physical and emotional intimacy are important for both people’s happiness. Over time, intimacy can wane and lead to conflicts in the marriage. Whether one of you is experiencing a lower libido than the other or you’ve noticed you don’t seem to connect emotionally anymore, it’s time to take action. Relationship therapists know how to help couples build greater intimacy levels that increase satisfaction in a marriage.

Lifestyle Changes

Throughout a marriage, a couple can expect to possibly have children, start new careers, retire from their jobs, and experience health challenges. Each of these major life events requires you and your spouse to adjust and find a way to work through them while still caring for your marriage. If one or both of you struggle with a major life change, talking about your challenges can help you save your marriage.

Unaddressed Mental Health Conditions

Depression, anxiety, and addiction are just a few mental health conditions that impact a marriage. In some cases, one or both of you might be dealing with mental health issues that haven’t been diagnosed. Or you may still be learning how to manage the symptoms. Individual therapy sessions can help you learn more about how you or your spouse’s mental health influences your relationship. Many couples combine individual counseling with marriage therapy to learn to work together to cope with mental health challenges.

At Serenity Therapy and Counseling, our therapists focus on guiding you and your partner toward positive changes that foster empathy and strengthen your bond. From addressing communication challenges to resolving conflicts and emotional distance, our marriage counseling services in San Diego are tailored to meet your specific needs. Call us today to learn how we can help.