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	<title>Better Relationships &#187; MARRIAGE COUNSELING</title>
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	<link>https://www.better-relationships.com</link>
	<description>Marriage &#38; Couples Counseling, Psychotherapy, Premarital Counseling</description>
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		<title>Yes, Sexual Betrayal Can Lead to These PTSD Symptoms!</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/yes-sexual-betrayal-can-lead-to-these-ptsd-symptoms/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/yes-sexual-betrayal-can-lead-to-these-ptsd-symptoms/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 Jun 2018 19:30:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[CONFLICT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COUPLES THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GRIEF & LOSS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[INFIDELITY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[infidelity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PTSD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sexual betrayal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sexual trauma]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trust]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4111</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; Love is war. So the saying goes goes . That comparison may actually be fitting in connection with something you perhaps haven’t thought of—trauma. It’s no secret that sexual infidelity can be physically harmful and emotionally crushing. A betrayed partner may feel a whole range of devastating emotions and experiences a bewildering variety of bodily symptoms. One moment they feel angry and irritated, the next as if living in a daze where nothing matters. They can’t sleep, they can’t eat. It’s as if they’ve gone crazy. It’s a reaction to the trauma of betrayal. And it’s a very natural response when one feels unsafe and insecure in a relationship. In fact, studies have shown that those who have been sexually betrayed by their partner can suffer such devastating emotional turmoil that they display trauma symptoms very similar to those of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Why? Because the magnitude of a sexual betrayal can be enormous. Like an earthquake, this form of cheating shakes the very foundations of trust within a relationship. The PTSD Symptoms of Sexual Betrayal Consider some of the aftershocks of that blow. 1. Irritability, Rage, and Despair The initial anger and rage over the betrayal often give way to frequent and extreme mood swings. From rapid shifts between rage, hurt, sadness, and hopefulness to excessive emotional outbursts and breaking down in tears. The reactions are usually this intense because it wasn’t just anyone that hurt the victim. They have been betrayed by the person they thought they could count on the most. It’s no wonder that being traumatized in this way causes an enormous range of pain. 2. Avoidance, Feelings of Emptiness, and Emotional Numbness Emotional numbness often follows rage, irritability, and despair. Everything feels hollow and unappealing. Things the victim formerly enjoyed don’t bring them pleasure anymore. Feeling empty and yet feeling a flood emotions, they’ll avoid any reminders of the betrayal, trying to forget the terrible pain. And eventually, they may even withdraw from friends and family, isolating themselves to hide from the emotional upheaval that they can’t control. 3. Flashbacks, Nightmares, and Painful [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>How to Communicate When You&#8217;re Angry &#8211; (6) Helpful Guidelines</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/how-to-communicate-when-youre-angry-6-helpful-guidelines/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/how-to-communicate-when-youre-angry-6-helpful-guidelines/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 May 2018 18:56:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[ARGUMENTS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COMMUNICATION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CONFLICT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COUPLES THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[arguments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[conflict]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[constructive fighting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marriage]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4078</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[All couples argue. This is normal and an expected part of close relationships. How we conduct ourselves and how we respond to our partner can either enhance the relationship or put it at risk. Consider these guidelines for having constructive arguments with your partner: 1. It is better to be happy together than to be right. Blaming each other and trying to change the other person&#8217;s opinion are both counterproductive. When we assume that one person is right and the other person is wrong, we put the other person who was “wrong” on the defensive. Get out of this right vs. wrong framework together. Accept the fact that you simply see the issue differently. 2. Become aware of your impact on your partner. Arguments start when we say something without realizing how our partner will take it. Your partner may blame you for starting an argument when that is the last thing you had in mind. The goal of relationship therapy is to uncover what people mean when they say things – and what it means when they hear certain things. 3. You can&#8217;t change the past. Although you may feel hurt by something that happened in the past, the only effective option you have is working for better circumstances in the present and in the future. Of course, you may want to talk about things which have bothered you in the past, but holding a grudge usually interferes with the productive resolution of current problems – those things which you can do something about it. Work on one current problem at a time, not a list of things from the past. Discuss the problem as soon as possible and while it is relevant. 4. State your needs as specific request for positive behavior change. It is not helpful to criticize the person&#8217;s character – this simply puts your partner into a defensive stance. Labeling a person with words like “crazy” or “immature” or “slob” does not solve the specific problem you need to address, and it ensures that you will not be heard. These words are only meant to [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>An Emotional Affair – What It Is and What It Isn’t</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/an-emotional-affair-what-it-is-and-what-it-isnt/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/an-emotional-affair-what-it-is-and-what-it-isnt/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Apr 2018 04:45:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[COMMITMENT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COUPLES THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[INFIDELITY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[emotional affair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[infidelity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[intimacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sex]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4007</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You may have heard the term “emotional affair.” Do you understand what it really means? Is it really &#8216;cheating&#8217;? Consider the following: What Is an Emotional Affair? An emotional affair can start off innocently but quickly develop into something more. How so? For instance, imagine that you are in a relationship. You feel satisfied with your partner and vice versa. Then someone new enters your life, or an existing relationship becomes more meaningful to you. For example, you begin to confide in a co-worker about your personal life; about your thoughts and feelings about your life. Soon you begin to look forward to seeing them at the office. You realize that you “click” with this person. You feel open and vulnerable, connected to them in a way that you haven’t felt before, or lately. But instead of talking about these things with your partner, you talk about it with this new person. Even worse, you don’t tell your partner what’s going on. You’ve slowly slipped into an emotional affair. How Is Talking Considered an Affair? Talking with another friend or co-worker is obviously not an emotional affair. It is the level of intimacy involved with the conversation along with the emotions that can make it so. After all, you could easily talk to a friend about a personal topic without having this type of emotional reaction. In fact, you most likely would have already had the same discussion with your partner. But once you begin to have an emotional reaction, like looking forward to seeing the other person, you are no longer simply having a private conversation. Once your feelings are involved, your conversations take on a degree intimacy. And if the other person begins to feel and behave as you do, an emotional bond has formed. When this bond comes into conflict with the bond you’re supposed to have your partner and you keep it a secret, you are having an emotional affair. But I Thought Affairs Were Strictly Sexual! Yes, it’s true that many affairs are sexually-based. However, remember that many who participate in an emotional affair do so [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Self-Compassion: Why it’s Much Harder Than Compassion for Others</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/self-compassion-why-its-much-harder-than-compassion-for-others/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/self-compassion-why-its-much-harder-than-compassion-for-others/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Apr 2018 00:54:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COUPLES THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FORGIVENESS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[compassion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self compassion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self help]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4000</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; Do you find it easier to forgive others than yourself? Are you able to accept others’ mistakes but not your own? Practicing self-compassion can actually be very difficult. This is especially true if you learned as a child to care more about others, or if you have a hard time forgiving yourself. People are not born with a loathing for themselves. They learn it from their environment and life experiences. Perhaps this is you. Were you told as a child that you were somehow less-than-worthy? Was this reinforced by your experiences with other people? Sadly, oftentimes it is parents who plant the seeds of these beliefs. The damaged caused only amplifies over the years into adulthood. However, there is a way to mend the situation. What Is Self-Compassion? Self-compassion is a set of practices aimed at being empathetic and affirming to you. In layman’s terms, you could say it’s, “giving yourself a break.” Yet, at the same time, it is much more than that. It encompasses the following attributes: Acceptance: Being OK with who you are—warts and all. Forgiveness: Showing compassion and mercy to yourself for past actions or behavior. Kindness: Treating yourself with love and empathy. Understanding: Having an awareness of how you think and act—and why. As a whole, self-compassion sounds like a pretty good thing. It’s very similar to showing compassion to someone else. Yet, why is it often so hard for us to practice self-compassion, even when we have no problem extending it to others? Consider some of these possibilities: Having Impossibly High Standards for Yourself One reason why it is hard to have self-compassion is that you may have really high standards for yourself. Now, on the one hand, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Everyone should strive to be their personal best. Yet, we all experience setbacks, too. There are times when we even fail. You may be someone for whom a failure becomes a personal crisis. For you, failure is not an option. Yet, this kind of thinking isn’t realistic. Everyone has weak moments from time-to-time. The important point of failure is: [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>When Partners’ Sex Drives Differ – 7 Coping Tips</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/when-partners-sex-drives-differ-7-coping-tips/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/when-partners-sex-drives-differ-7-coping-tips/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Apr 2018 00:12:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[ARGUMENTS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COMMUNICATION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CONFLICT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[INFIDELITY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIP THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[different sex drives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[intimacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[making love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sex]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sex drive]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=3997</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sex and sexual desire is a key part of many relationships. It provides a certain aspect of intimacy. So, what happens when your partner’s sex drive differs from yours? First, this doesn&#8217;t have to be an obstacle. Consider these tips to help you cope with this difference and still maintaining a healthy relationship. Tip #1: Communicate Expectations to Your Partner Communication is important for so many facets of a relationship. This includes intimacy. Have honest conversations with each other about your expectations in the bedroom. And don’t just make it a one-time discussion. Revisit the issue frequently to make sure you both remain on the same page. Hopefully, you had some of these discussions when you first started seeing each other. However, expectations can change over time. So it’s important to maintain an open dialogue. Tip #2: Listen to Each Other’s Perspectives Another important tip is to actively listen to each other. Keep an open mind and hold back from making prejudgments. For instance, if you want to have more sex than your partner does, listen to their point of view. (You can make sure you heard them correctly by repeating back what you heard.) As with many aspects of a relationship, when couples actively listen, they have a better understanding of each other. This means that they can still respect one another while holding different points of view. Tip #3: Refocus on the Relationship Although what happens in the bedroom is important, it’s not all that’s important in a relationship. If the relationship isn’t healthy, then your sexual experience won’t be healthy either. As mentioned above, you can start by communicating and listening. However, it may be necessary to get help with this from a professional therapist. A therapist can advise you on all aspects of the relationship, including intimacy. Tip #4: Don’t Nag or Guilt-Trip Your Partner If you are the one who wants to have more sex, don’t nag or guilt-trip your partner. Trying to convince your partner to have sex just isn’t sexy. It should be something that both of you enjoy equally together. Otherwise, when [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Once a Cheater, Always a Cheater? Myths and Facts</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/once-a-cheater-always-a-cheater-myths-and-facts/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/once-a-cheater-always-a-cheater-myths-and-facts/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Apr 2018 22:31:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[COMMITMENT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CONFLICT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COUPLES THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FORGIVENESS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[INFIDELITY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheater]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[emotional affair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[forgiveness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[infidelitiy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online affair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sex]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[unfaithful]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=3990</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Clearly, whenever you’ve been cheated on, there are many feelings that arise. However, some of these emotions could be based on myths about those who cheat. And that can cause you to make decisions based on faulty information. If you are trying to cope with a partner’s infidelity, get the facts and reject the myths. Myth: “My partner cheated, which means they don’t love me anymore.” FACT: In reality, many people who cheat report that they did not cheat just because the relationship was bad. It is completely possible that despite your partner&#8217;s infidelity, they still feel very strongly toward you. In fact, their reasoning behind the affair may have had nothing to do with how they feel about you and much more about how they feel about themselves. Myth: “People who cheat once will cheat again.” FACT: That kind of thinking only sets up your partner to fail again. Yes, they made a mistake. But that doesn’t mean they are doomed to make it again. Everyone has the capacity to make decisions that affect their future. Your partner made a poor decision for your relationship by cheating. However, what they do afterward can mean a lot. You can see their attitude, for example, if: Your partner takes responsibility for their behavior and thee pain it&#8217;s caused. They sincerely apologize and asks for forgiveness. They have permanently cut all ties to the other person. Your partner wants to participate in therapy with you. They make an earnest and sincere effort to repair your relationship. Myth: “If I stay, our relationship will always be defined by the affair.” FACT: Certainly, the affair will have an immediate impact on the relationship. A major factor is trust. With any affair, the wounded partner will feel a loss of trust to the other. Yet, the cheating does not have to define the relationship in the long-term. If both of you want to make things right it will take a lot of work and commitment to change. For your partner, this means putting in a sincere effort to rebuild the lost trust. Of course, this [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Financial Disagreements: 3 Keys to Avoid Them Destroying Your Relationship</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/financial-disagreements-3-keys-to-avoid-them-destroying-your-relationship/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/financial-disagreements-3-keys-to-avoid-them-destroying-your-relationship/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Mar 2018 00:16:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[ARGUMENTS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Career]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CONFLICT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FINANCES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SALARY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family finances]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financial disagreements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[householed finances]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=3962</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There’s an old saying that goes, “Money is the root of all evil.” While money may not be responsible for all the problems a couple may have, it’s definitely a double-edged sword. Although money can empower couples to make their own decisions, it also can cause financial disagreements and drive couples apart. Every couple has disagreements. They go hand-in-hand with any relationship. However, financial disagreements can be a particularly difficult problem. In fact, money matters and differing viewpoints regarding finances are at the top of the list of reason why couples separate or divorce. To avoid letting this issue destroy your relationship, consider these three important key points. 1. Communicate Early and Often About Finances Like with everything else in a relationship, communication is also key when it comes to finances. Even when in the dating phase, it is helpful to talk about money. Regardless of which stage you are in a relationship, consider applying these ideas: Know whether or not your partner has significant debt. Get a clear understanding of your income, expenses, and debt. Create a household budget together and stick to it. Review the household finances together, at least monthly. If considering a major purchase, review all of the information and discuss it before making a decision. When a financial decision requires a lot of work, divide tasks. Then, report back to each other with your findings. Make it a regular habit to talk about the family finances. This ensures both of you are engaged and have a voice when it comes to money matters. 2. Work Together to Prepare for the Future Together, envision where you see yourselves at 10, 20, or 30 years down the road. Do you want to have children? Are you interested in taking an extended trip? Or do you want to purchase a second home? As you discuss these things, are both your visions in alignment? If not, then you both may have some work to do. Remember that not every couple is going to align on every major issue. Some disagreement should be expected. Yet, you both should be in [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		<title>The Positive Impact of Premarital Counseling – 7 Ways Your Relationship Can Benefit</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/the-positive-impact-of-premarital-counseling-7-ways-your-relationship-can-benefit/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/the-positive-impact-of-premarital-counseling-7-ways-your-relationship-can-benefit/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Mar 2018 01:38:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[COMMITMENT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COMMUNICATION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CONFLICT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COUPLES THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FINANCES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIP THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[counseling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[couples counseling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marriage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[premarital counseling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sex]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wedding plans]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=3957</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many couples consider premarital counseling as something for those who really don’t know what they want out of a marriage. Yet, that is far from the truth. In reality, premarital counseling should be a prerequisite for any couple looking to get married. How can it benefit and strengthen your relationship? #1: Refining Communication Skills Knowing how to communicate effectively is a never-ending challenge in most aspects of life. Even for people who are already experienced communicators, marriage poses its unique communication challenges. Some potential problem areas include: Listening Skills: While your partner can repeat what you just said, you still don’t feel that they heard you. Can you openly discuss your ideas, thoughts and feelings without being criticized? Do you have effective conflict resolution skills? Do you keep fighting about the same thing? Do you fight fair? What topics do you agree on and what do you fight about? Do you expect your partner to know what you’re thinking or feeling? (aka ‘mind-reading’) #2: Aligning Your Outlooks on Life Premarital counseling helps partners determine if their overall goals and outlooks on marriage are, in general, compatible and if not, is change feasible? Things to consider include: Lifestyle differences: Talk together about this example: One partner is energetic, socially active and fantasizes about running for public office. The other partner is more introverted and prefers a much quieter lifestyle. Could this couple be happy together? Are you both willing to accommodate the other’s points of view? What will happen if she or he cannot change? Who has more influence now and does this need to change after marriage? How are decisions made? Do you enjoy some of the same activities? If not, are you willing to try to participate in what your partner enjoys? Are both of you content with the amount of time you have to relax? Are you free to spend some time apart and enjoy your own friends and hobbies? Is your partner responsible for your happiness, and if so, how will he or she do that? The dating process helps with sorting out some of these issues. [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		<title>When She Earns More Money Than Him – How Will The Relationship Be Affected?</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/when-she-earns-more-money-than-him-how-will-the-relationship-be-affected/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/when-she-earns-more-money-than-him-how-will-the-relationship-be-affected/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Mar 2018 02:44:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[ARGUMENTS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Career]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COMMUNICATION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CONFLICT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COUPLES THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FINANCES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SALARY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family finances]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[household income]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[investments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[power struggles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[salary]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=3952</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When it comes to who the breadwinner is in the family, times are changing. According to the Pew Research Center, in 1960, 11% of American families had a woman as the primary wage earner. Today, that number has climbed to 40%. This change in gender roles can have an impact on relationships. How so? A New World but Old Egos Remain In the modern world, many aspects of society that were considered “traditional” have been upended. Often, this is for the better. Interestingly, though, many men hold onto old notions of what it means to be the primary breadwinner. Even if they have forward-thinking views on other issues, this particular matter may still hold fast. Why? It is because many men are holding onto older concepts of what it is to be a man. Plus, ego comes into play. Regardless of gender, jobs and how much money one earns are connected to ego. Work becomes a significant factor for how one defines themselves as a person. Defining Your Own Relationship It is important for couples to focus more on what is important for their relationship rather than societal conventions. Feeling that you have to fit into some kind of mold or strict definition can only cause stress in the relationship. Rather, sit down together and have an honest dialogue. Especially, discuss finances and how they affect your household. Remember, one of the major causes couples cite when it comes to divorce is disagreeing about money. Creating an Equal Relationship When ‘she’ makes more money than ‘he’ does, one of the issues that arise is the perceived difference in power. ‘He’ can feel he has less power when ‘she’ makes significantly more money. This is particularly true when it comes to making financial decisions. However, when partners openly discuss their concerns, it&#8217;s easier to: agree on who pays which household bills divide chores in a way that is equitable for both partners make major financial decisions, such as home buying or investments, together. Of course, both partners want to be able to contribute to the success of the household and the [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		<title>Hooked on Porn? 3 Ways Porn Addiction Affects Your Relationship</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/hooked-on-porn-3-ways-porn-addiction-affects-your-relationship/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/hooked-on-porn-3-ways-porn-addiction-affects-your-relationship/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Feb 2018 01:17:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[ADDICTIONS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CONFLICT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[INFIDELITY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Porn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIP THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[emotional affair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[infidelity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Porn Addiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sex]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=3907</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Porn has become a household subject within the past few decades. While most people aren’t sitting around the dinner table discussing it in detail, we are more aware of its existence now than ever. In fact, many people have invited porn into their lives “just for fun.” Maybe you thought viewing a little action to “spice” up your own libido wouldn’t hurt anything. Now, you’re hooked. You can’t get enough. When you first started watching porn you may not have intended for this to happen. As life plays out, though, it’s easy to see that porn is anything but harmless to a romantic relationship. Ways Porn Addiction Affects Your Relationship 1. Decreases Sexual Satisfaction It may seem like an oxymoron to say that porn decreases sexual satisfaction. This is a reality for porn viewers, though. It may even be a reality for you. For example, watching porn can quickly alter your expectation of sex. Meaning, you don’t think or feel about sex the way that you once did. Your partner used to turn you on, but now arousal is difficult for you. Furthermore, porn viewers learn to expect something new each time. It could be a new scenario, new characters, or new angle. Your partner can start to seem boring to you because he or she isn’t anything “new.” Sadly, your partner may feel cheated by the fact that you choose to view porn over making love to him or her. This feeling of betrayal can quickly pull the two of you apart. If you don’t address the issue, then the gaping distance in your relationship will progressively grow larger and larger. This leads us to the next problem. 2. Decreases Intimacy Many people use intimacy and sex interchangeably. They aren’t the same, though. While intimacy can be sex and sex can be intimacy, it’s not automatic. Sex is, however, one of the deepest forms of intimacy. This notion is what porn twists. In short, when you make love you make love to a person. When you watch porn you watch sex organs. Porn has diminished both men and women [&#8230;]]]></description>
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