How has your relationship survived the lockdown challenge?
Is your relationship stronger or more strained as a result of lockdown?
YourLifeChoices reported that nearly a quarter of Australians told an Australian National University survey that their relationships had been more difficult or strained during the past year.
The Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) said that these results were unsurprising and suggested that many couples may need help to save or rebuild their relationships after more than 18 months of Covid-related strain.
PACFA President Dr Di Stow said lockdown meant couples were spending more time together than usual and having to collaborate in managing challenges such as working from home and COVID-related anxiety.
"In many ways, the Covid-related lockdowns – necessary as they have been for public health - have been a huge social experiment. Within these unusual conditions, some relationships that were already rocky have broken down while others have become strained to breaking point," Dr Stow said.
"Lockdown has exposed pre-existing trauma and cracks in relationships because couples no longer have the distraction of activities outside the home."
But she said seeing a relationship counsellor or psychotherapist could help struggling couples work through the issues exposed or exacerbated by lockdown.
Relationship counsellors can even help a couple learn how to argue more constructively.
While many Australians have become frustrated by lack of access to a psychologist via a GP referral, they are able to self-refer to a counsellor or psychotherapist.
Australians seeking relationships counselling can use PACFA’s ‘Find a therapist’ function on pacfa.org.au to find a counsellor or psychotherapist by locality and modality (couples therapy).
There are also resources available on the Australian College of Relationship Counsellors (ACRC) website about common issues affecting relationships such as communication breakdown, conflict and losing the ‘spark’.
Is your relationship stronger or more strained as a result of lockdown? What have been the biggest challenges that your relationship has faced?
There are 3 people in this relationship, Me, Myself and I. We all get on really well. We have become stronger and there is never an arguement We all share the same interests but meal time can be a little difficult as we're not sure whether to make something tasty, have a frozen meal or get takeaway. Takeaway usually wins as then there is no washing up.