Grief in a Relationship

Grief is an acute reaction to loss. It can come from many angles, including the loss of a job, moving away from friends, or the loss of a loved one. Regardless of where it originates, it can have a profound impact on your relationship with your significant other.

Greif can cause marital conflict. Often the emotional expression of grief comes out in different ways: irritability, anger, and even withdrawal. Your partner may take these reactions personally and it’s hard not to since your world has been turned upside down and you’re feeling a sense of being out of control. Sometimes when the grieving person doesn’t understand their own feelings, they actually can be misdirected at your spouse. And this can quickly create conflict, especially if your spouse is dealing with their own grief.

There is no right way to grieve. One partner may want to be alone, while the other may want to talk about the loss. This can drive a wedge between you. This could lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. If partners don’t feel supported, they are likely to shut down. Grieving can also impact your sex life, especially if there is depressive symptoms. Physical symptoms can accompany grief such as heart palpitations, stomach upset, or sleeplessness, which can also impact one’s sex life.

Not all is lost in the grieving process. Perhaps a couple has complementary grieving styles and can reach towards each other for support and connection. This bond that is forged can strengthen a relationship between partners. Viewing the loss can be a shared experience to be faced together, coming out stronger on the other end.

Couplestrong Collaborator: Jenny A. Mannion, LMHC

JennyMannionLMHC.com