What creates stress within a marriage? How to handle stress as a couple and a family?

 Life has its ups and downs, and every marriage and family experiences stress to some extent. From financial pressures to parenting challenges, the strains of daily life can take a toll on relationships. A marriage and family relationship can experience stress in many different ways. For stress to be effectively managed, the sources needs to be found. Whenever issues arise, questioning the source of the problem usually leads to finding a solution.

Although there are multiple ways we can talk about stress, let's only see what causes this problem. Stress is a sign of discomfort, or struggle. It is a difficult situation that seems overwhelming. Stress is never ending. Everyone experiences stress in some way everyday. No one can escape it. The only thing left is how we face or take this opportunity to grow together as a family. How have you handled stress? How did it go? What was the lessons learned? We all have lessons learned from stress. Whether it be by overcoming the challenges, or learning valuable lessons from the experience.

Financial concerns, communication troubles, difficulty with work-life balance, difficulties with parenting, and relationship issues are all common sources of stress. Couples can start to identify answers and minimize these stressors' effects on their relationship and family life by accepting the fact and working towards improvement. For example, a newly married couple's first challenge might be a financial issue. What to eat? Where to sleep? What to wear? This is something to consider when getting married, especially after having a wedding. Do we have income? How much is our rent? How much do we have in debt for school? The list is endless.

One time, I remember getting charged for a payment twice. I noticed it happening and I made a phone call to get my money back. The first person I spoke with expressed I can’t get a refund since it has already been made and ended the call. The second time I called I remember calmly expressing myself and asking to speak to someone that can understand my situation. After returning my money, the representative said something that was interesting. She stated, “I know this can be stressful especially whenever money is involved” That was a great lesson I learned. I think stress is right around the corner waiting to come and revamp our life. The lesson I learned, is to keep calm, it’s not the end, just take it a step at a time.

Partner relationships are strengthened when stress management is done as a team effort. Couples should cooperate to resolve and reach agreements on the problems that are stressing them out. Some families grow stronger than they were before when they both focus on a same goal. Many have hard time bouncing back. I think that is fine as long as we seek on working towards it. During challenging times, seeking support is not a sign of weakness but a smart move. Talk to close friends and family members you can trust, or think about getting help from a professional like marriage counseling or therapy.

Self-care is equally crucial to sustaining a healthy relationship. Family members and couples should place a high priority on their physical and emotional health. Whether it be by eating healthy, or taking a break, it is necessary to refresh our minds to face the task. I also think planning tasks can be a relief and is important as well. Managing stress as a marriage and a family depends on finding a balance between duties. Having set reasonable limits and using good time management techniques are key. Put quality time together a top priority, whether it is through date evenings, family trips, or quiet moments of rest. Also plan out duties and tasks, so it can be accomplished in a timely manner.