Strategies to Reduce Arguing
The challenge in many relationships is learning how to argue constructively with someone who you spend a lot of time with.
With someone who you're so close to, it’s a given that you are going to clash now
and again.
Sometimes, however, the fighting gets so bad that one or the other of you may decide to quit your
relationship all together.
So how do you save a relationship that seems to be headed down the toilet?
Learn to Recognize Reality
The first thing you have to do is recognize why you’re fighting. Are you fighting because you’re truly mad at
each other, or are you fighting because you’re upset that some jerk at your office accused you of something
you didn’t do?
You live together and are friends, of course, so it makes sense that you take out your moods and pent-up
emotions on each other.
However, this can cause a lot of problems. Before your anger escalates to the boiling point, stop and
figure out exactly why you’re angry. If you’re frustrated about something at work, let your lover know.
They are the person you should be able to turn to when things aren’t going the way you want them to.
Relax and Find the Calm
The calmer you are, the more likely your spouse will be to take you seriously. People are more likely to
listen to the words of a calm person than they are to someone who won’t stop ranting and raving.
One way in which you can learn to remain calm is to take up meditation or yoga. Simple breathing techniques
that are taught in these disciplines can help you to learn to stay calm, even in the midst of a really
difficult argument. When you learn these breathing techniques, you may be able to stave off the argument
entirely, which is one way to help save your relationship.
Practice Agreeing to Disagree
No two people are going to agree on everything all of the time. It would be a pretty boring world if we all did.
Take the case of one of my male friends. He believes that his son shouldn’t have a car until he is 18,
while his wife believes that he should be allowed to have one anytime after the age of 16.
This is an argument that threatened to tear them apart. Finally, they both agreed to disagree about the earring
situation. He figured out that, when she got older, she would convince him herself. Sometimes you have to put
aside your strong feelings and realize that your lover has strong feelings, as well. It’s perfectly all right
to agree to disagree.
Act Like a Team Instead of Opponents
Instead of fighting against each other, come together and work for, or against, something. If you have children,
work toward giving them the best life you can give them.
If you’re against something in your town, work toward getting it resolved. If you’re into sports, join a team
together. The couple that plays together, stays together!
Light a Flame: Dance and Romance
When couples first get together, they often spend hours just talking. As the relationship gets further along,
these types of chats tend to become fewer and fewer and intimacy fades.
Sometimes the the simple act of dancing together can make a couple realize how important it is
to be in each other’s arms.
Dance and romance your partner. Sometimes swaying slowly together in a darkened room is one of the nicest
ways to reconnect.
Plan an Adventure Together
Like can get boring when all you do is work and take care of your home life. In addition to romance,
planning an adventure together can add excitement to a relationship. If you can combine romance and
adventure - all the better!
Relationships can be difficult. When you put two people together for an extended period of time, they are bound to
fight and bicker.
References (To view, roll mouse over the "References" heading; to hide, click on the heading)
Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J. (2005). Top 10 greatest "hits": important findings and future directions for intimate partner violence research. Journal
Interpersonal Violence, 20(1), 108-118.
Schumacher, J. A., & Leonard, K.E. (2005). Husbands' and wives' marital adjustment, verbal aggression, and physical aggression as
longitudinal predictors of physical aggression in early marriage. Journal Consulting Clinical Psychology,73(1), 28-37.
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