Difficult Relationships
What is a difficult relationship?
A relationship that causes stress can be with a partner, family member, friends, or co-worker.
Define toxic trend
A toxic trend is when someone shows negative behaviours (i.e. manipulation and selfishness) in a pattern when themselves or others are experiencing difficulties.
What is conflict?
A disagreement or argument....having different thoughts/views on a subject.
True or False: Are there ways to make unhealthy relationships healthy?
True
What can make a relationship more difficult?
Being a parent, caring for an ailing adult, having multiple people to care for.
What are abusive behaviours?
The intentional or improper use of physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, or financial use
True or False: Conflict is a necessary part of being in and maintaining relationships?
True: Healthy conflict is necessary to relationships. This helps us see other people's point of views and understand topics and people better.
How can you help create healthier relationships?
Make and maintain boundaries, prioritize your well-being, protect your own health, achieve some distance, open the lines of communication
What can make "cooling off" difficult during a conflict?
What are some toxic trends?
acts of selfishness, ignoring other person's needs, ignoring others point of view, trying to change someone (not accepting for who they are)
What is the term for when two people having a conflict give in a bit to settle the conflict?
Compromise.
What are some ways to help make someone less defensive when talking about a difficult subject?
"I" statements, using a calm tone of voice, take turns expressing point of view, put yourself in their shoes
What strains a relationship?
Having different values, appreciation, values, different priorities, trust issues, communication breakdowns, unresolved conflict, personal insecurities
What are some warning signs of a toxic trend?
Feeling burnt out or depleted after interactions, having negative thoughts about the relationship, feeling like the relationship is imbalanced, feeling that you are not valued or respected by the other person
What are 3 ways to "cool off" during a conflict?
Take deep breaths, take a time-out, count to 10, other coping skills
What are some difficult aspects of relationships?
mutual respect, defining the relationship, lack of communication, making one-on-one time, compromise, disagreements, coming back after a disagreement
How to identify a difficult relationship?
It's unstable (unpredictable, changes often), problematic, complicated, selfishness, inflexibility (not wanting to compromise)
Scenario: Your friend/partner has been ignoring you and your feelings. You decided to try and talk to them about this as it is making you upset. Instead of listening to you they tell you that you're "crazy" and "making things up" and blame you for their actions. What type of abuse is this?
Emotional abuse.
How can you manage conflict?
Separate the person from the problem, active listening, use neutral language, reflect on the situation, work towards a solution or compromise, forgive each other, ask a third party for help, etc.
False: Not all unhealthy relationships can be turned into a healthy relationship. Both parties need to be committed to