February 14th, 2020
“You know you’re in love when you don’t want to fall asleep
because reality is finally better than your dreams.”
-Dr. Seuss
When you love a person, particularly a romantic partner, you feel full, elated, content, joyful, and satisfied, among many other emotions. These feelings come from the ability to sync up with another individual on a level of understanding and commitment. Nothing is better. We all search for this kind of love. But what are the reasons that give us the ability to feel this type of affection towards a partner?
The above-listed reasons are only some of the ways in which we find contentment in our partnerships. Although these reasons seem clear and obvious as to why we love another human romantically, we sometimes get lost in love and forget what got us to this place. If you are questioning why you love your partner, it could follow similar reasoning (as listed in the first few points below) as when questioning why your partner loves you (as discussed in previous blog posts). Some of these reasons include the following:
The above reasons why we question our relationships and why we love our partners are generally self-induced and can be handled with healthy communication and compromise. However, sometimes there can be serious issues in a relationship, ones that not only need professional guidance but should elicit the relationship to ultimately be terminated. We are specifically referring to domestic abuse in a relationship. Domestic abuse can include any and/or all of the following:
When violent and abusive behaviors become part of a relationship, there can be long-term emotional effects. In fact, according to the National Coalition of Domestic Violence, “domestic victimization is correlated with a higher rate of depression and suicidal behavior”. In addition to depression and suicide, there are other mental health concerns associated with domestic abuse which are included below:
Depression
The deep emotions of sadness and hopelessness that can manifest from a dark and abusive relationship can leave a person suffering from depression. A survivor may be feeling unworthy, unable to trust, and unmotivated about life itself.
Suicide
When depression falls deeper and a person sees no hope at all in the future, suicidal thoughts, behaviors, and actions are of concern. According to Domestic Shelters- Domestic Violence Survivors at Higher Risk for Suicide, “multiple studies have found that domestic violence survivors have higher-than-average rates of suicidal thoughts, with as many as 23% of survivors having attempted suicide compared to 3 percent among populations with no prior domestic violence exposure.”
Anxiety
Worry, concern, and fear are both common and natural responses to domestic abuse. This anxiety can spill over into other aspects of a survivor’s life.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD develops after a person has experienced some sort of shocking or dangerous event, such as domestic abuse. PTSD can cause survivors to have subsequent issues with panic, fear, or isolation.
It is important to stop searching for issues in the relationship for you to question why you love your partner. In order to maintain a healthy mindset and healthy relationship, it is crucial for you to remind yourself that you committed to this partner for a reason. Trust yourself and trust your gut. However, if there is a serious problem, please seek professional help.
At Clarity Clinic, we have highly trained staff who specialize in therapy and psychiatry services. To learn more about how we can support your mental health, call Clarity Clinic at (312) 815-9660 or schedule an appointment today.
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