Top 5 Approaching Challenges in Relationships

Every relationship has its own difficulties. No relationship is ever perfect and the only means of achieving an almost perfect relationship is through effectively surpassing challenges and learning something new about your partner. Different challenges occur in every stage of the relationship. All relationship undergoes developments and passes through various stages of knowing each other and fitting into the bond. It is important to understand these phases of attachment in order to deal with the challenges more effectively.

Symbiosis

This stage involves knowing each other and understanding one’s attitudes and behaviors to determine compatibility. It is in this stage that a couple explores possibilities of commitment and sharing life together. This stage is the most loved phase because it is in here that couples fall in love, share thoughts and feelings, and creates a “we” perception. Challenges in this stage involves the acceptance of faults of other person and becoming honest, in order for the partner to realize if he or truly accepts the person for life. Problems arise in the future when what the couple just sees is a perfect fantasy not considering differences and other factors.

Differentiation

This stage involves the concept of finding individual differences and what they felt as togetherness and similarities during symbiosis is not all. Because of these differences, conflicts arise when the couple sticks to what they individually believe. Challenges in this stage involve learning to become flexible and negotiate differences. Some couples leave the relationship at this stage because of wanting to seek symbiotic fantasy. Problems in relationships often happen during this stage when the couple thinks that the person they knew before during symbiosis is completely different and that they were wrong in going into marriage. Couples should make possible ways to deal with the problems and realize that not all things come into symbiosis. A great deal of acceptance, understanding and patience is needed in this stage.

Practicing

This stage involves the exploration of individual pursuits along with the relationship. Often, people become focused on themselves, but finds comfort and retreat with their partners from the outside world. Challenges in this stage involve supporting and accepting the individual pursuits of partners. Other partners tend to control the other person’s choices because of fear of being left behind or separation. Other problems arise when couples use these individual pursuits to separate from the challenges in the relationship. As a result, they become two separate individuals with separate lives or one still wants symbiosis to occur which tends to control the other person. Affairs usually develop during this stage.

Rapprochement

This phase involves the revival of intimacy. Sometimes, a person needs to find his or herself and develop a separate identity in order to develop intimacy after. In this stage, there is a balance of separation and connection, which keeps the relationship alive. Problems may arise when one partner is still involved in the practicing stage and still wants to get hold of his or her individuality, making intimacy more difficult.

Interdependence