5 Ways To Avoid Communication Gaps In Relationships, From A Psychologist

One of the most prominent challenges adversely affecting couples today is their difficulty effectively communicating with each other in a way that feels safe, transparent, and non-defensive. Most people know communication is important to relationships, but we don't talk enough about how damaging a lack of communication can be. This isn't a case of a "nice to have"—it's a "need to have."

The pandemic dramatically heightened and exacerbated these issues. The increased time couples spent together forced them to assess their relationships more closely. In turn, those who honestly faced what did or didn't work benefited by utilizing the chance to improve the areas they felt posed challenges.

Here are the five techniques you can practice to better cope and improve communication effectiveness in your relationship:

Create a sustainable pattern of being honest, staying connected, and remaining open to each other. Focus on getting issues out in the open rather than repressing them out of fear of conflict. Harboring issues under the surface only fuels resentment and compounds problems. Focusing on reciprocal mindful communication will help breed a stronger belief in the power of your bond and relationship.

The idea is to develop a shared safe space that's based on mutually agreed upon, nonjudgmental understanding and vulnerability. It must be a transparent, shared, private universe where you share secrets that you wouldn't tell others. By doing this, you will create healthy reciprocity and a loving language that maintains mutual respect in your relationship.

Instead, thoughtfully communicate what's bothering you. Your partner will react better if you let them know exactly what you're thinking instead of what you assume they're thinking.

Remember to use complementary and encouraging words to express your respect for acts of service by your partner so they realize you're aware they love and support you. Invite them onto your island, and let them know they're always part of your team. Make each other feel special and not replaceable.

To make the most of date nights, decide in advance if there are topics for your date that you would prefer to discuss or want to avoid. Respect each other's topic choices. Focus on topics that keep the date romantic, light, and breezy and remind you of why you fell for each other!

Refining and making tweaks to your communication style can produce remarkable results over a respectable period. To break an existing pattern, you must develop and sustain a new one. Once you implement the new pattern, you'll experience noticeable growth in your overall feelings of security and safety in your relationship.