Latest / Wellbeing Solutions - Ask A Counsellor / AAC - Mental Health in a Relationship - How can mental health affect relationships? Q3 (Lisa)

Transcript

AAC - Mental Health in a Relationship - How can mental health affect relationships? Q3 (Lisa) · Wellbeing Solutions - Ask A Counsellor

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Mental health can impact on relationships in significant and sometimes subtle ways because it affects how people think, feel and behave, which can lead to misunderstandings and emotional distance.
• 0:16
  SPEAKER_00: Here are some of the most common ways it shows up.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_00: Communication changes.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: Mental health conditions like depression or anxiety can create barriers to effective communication.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_00: Someone might withdraw, avoid difficult conversation or misinterpret what another person is saying, or someone with a personality disorder might have an unpredictable emotional response that complicates interactions.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_00: Emotional availability.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: Mental health challenges can reduce a person's ability to be emotionally present.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_00: For example, depression can cause numbness or low energy, while anxiety might create constant worry.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_00: This might leave partners or friends feeling ignored.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_00: Trust and insecurity.
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_00: Some mental health conditions increase self-doubt or fear of rejection.
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_00: This might lead to jealousy, overthinking, or a constant need of reassurance, which can strain relationships over time.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_00: Conflict and reactions.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_00: Some conditions can affect how people respond to stress or disagreement.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_00: Someone dealing with anxiety might become easily overwhelmed while someone with depression might shut down emotionally.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_00: This can make it more difficult to resolve conflict.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_00: Dependence versus distance.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_00: There can be shifts in balancing either becoming overly dependent on a partner for emotional support or pulling away completely.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: Both extremes might create pressure or confusion in the relationship.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_00: Impact on daily life, such as sleep issues, low motivation or irritability can affect routines and shared responsibilities, which could lead to frustration or resentment.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_00: However, on a positive note, when people are aware of their mental health and actively work on it, relationships can become stronger.