Marriage Resources: Where to Get Help

One of the problems married couples face together or individually when they are encountering issues in their marriage is where to go for help. The following are some resources you, your spouse or others might be able to make use of when you are encountering difficulties. Domestic Abuse Domestic abuse is a serious problem, if you or someone you love is suffering from domestic abuse, contact the following resources: National Hotline for Battered Women – 1-800-799-SAFE Wife Beating and Elder Abuse Help Center Clearinghouse on Family Violence – 1-703-385-7565 Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence – 1-206-634-1903 … Continue reading →

Increase the Laughter in Your Lives

Laughter is a fabulous thing. It makes us feel great. In fact, one of the greatest joys of my marriage is the laughter I have shared with my husband. He is one of the funniest people I have ever known. Laughter is great gift for any relationship or person because it releases chemicals in the brain that not only reduce your stress, but also enhance your mood. It’s this reason that we are often attracted to the people that make us laugh from the actors to the comedians to the individuals in our daily lives. Laughter is a vital part … Continue reading →

Marriage Choking Points: Compulsive Spending

Are you a compulsive spender? Is your spouse? A compulsive spender is someone who can spend everything, right down to their last dime on frivolous things and items that they want but don’t necessarily need. A compulsive spender can do more than damage a marriage; they can land the relationship and the family into dire financial straits. If you or your spouse is a compulsive spender, chances are you are both aware of the problem. Make no mistake, compulsive spending is not a malicious act that one spouse does just to tick off the other spouse. Compulsive spending in and … Continue reading →

Protect Your Friendships After Marriage

It’s a sad fact that marriage can alter friendships, but it’s important to recognize that your circle of friends are as important after you get married as they were before. When couples get married, the first few months, nigh on years can be time spent focusing intently on each other – to the exclusion of previous friendships. While most of us don’t do it deliberately, there is a line of exclusion that seems to divide us from our single and married friends. Subtle Changes The losses always begin subtly. You don’t call your friends as often. You beg off from … Continue reading →

Marriage and the Illness of a Spouse

In sickness and in health. You said the words, and you meant them. You have no qualms about keeping your vows, but you are distraught upon learning that your beloved husband or wife is seriously ill. You cannot fathom the possibility of losing your soul mate, your friend and lover, the person you planned to spend your golden years with. Stop and take a deep breath. While our own mortality and that of our loved ones can be a chilling issue to contemplate, and is something we all give thought when we learn of disease of illness, the condition may … Continue reading →

In Sickness and in Health

Terror. Helplessness. Rage. Despair. These are only some of the myriad emotions one goes through when enduring the mental illness of a loved one. There is nothing quite as agonizing or frustrating as watching a spouse’s mental condition deteriorate, and many marriages fail to carry on through the strain. The insecurity and heartache of mental illness are only magnified with social reactions. Unlike more commonly understood physical conditions such as cancer, psychological illnesses are heavily stigmatized and misunderstood. The afflicted, along with his or her family, often go through intense feelings of shame, embarrassment, and confusion over the condition. It … Continue reading →

Health and Marriage

Marriage: It’s good for the body, and good for the soul! At least, that’s what new research has indicated. Studies show that married people are not only happier and more secure, but mentally and physically healthier! In fact, happily married people statistically live longer and generally enjoy better health than unmarried peers. One vast, nationally representative sample showed that nine out of ten married middle-aged men make it to senior-citizenship, compared to six out of ten unmarried men! Being unmarried may even shave more years off a man’s life than heart disease, the number one killer of Americans. As new … Continue reading →

Dealing With Widowhood

Marriage is a life long commitment, a commitment that you can make at any age. There are many people in the world who have and must witness the death of their spouse. This is an experience that can be matched to no other. No matter how long you have been married or known your spouse, their death is still something that shakes your entire being and world as you know it. You’ve lost your best friend and constant partner, and the grief is profound. When you choose to spend your life with a person (especially young people getting married) you … Continue reading →