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The time has come

again, to consider marriage counselling.  Our communication level has deteriorated far below the acceptable level and it's creating several other issues in it's wake.

Who's done it? any tips? How succcessful was it?

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Re: The time has come

  • Ah, crap Sam.  I guess that fight you had must have been a doozy.

    I am of no use here, as I do not have experience to share.  Just wanted to say sorry you are dealing with that. 

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  • Damn, Sam. I'm sorry you guys are having a rough patch. I don't have experience with this but I think it's very positive that you are both willing to take this step.
    image Ready to rumble.
  • I have no advice or recommendations, but I think it's great that you're seeking counselling at all.  A lot of folks would just avoid the issue until it either goes away, or more likely, explodes into a huge shitstorm.  So good for you for looking into it.
    image
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  • We haven't done marriage counseling, but we did some pretty extensive pre-marriage counseling. For communication issues, it often helps just to have that third party sitting there. Good luck, and I hope you find a counselor you both like and everything works out well. 
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  • Ugh, I'm sorry you guys are having a rough patch.  But counseling should be a big help to get you over the hump.  I hope the counselor supports your right to mock the WIZZZZZZZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARD!
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    "That chick wins at Penises, for sure." -- Fenton
  • One of my best friends went through counseling a year or 2 ago. She said it was the best decision she made. It really has helped their communication as well as helped them become aware of their bad habits with it. She thought it was great because a lot of stuff is difficult to talk about - for example if he said something to upset her she didn't want to respond right away because she was so angry she would flip. But then if she waited she would be rehashing old shiit. It gave them a place to discuss things without being accusatory. They have been fine for a while but still go periodically to keep themselves in line.

    Is he up for it as well?

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    For less then ten cents a day, you can feed a hungry child.
  • That sucks, Man.  I will agree that it's great you are looking into counseling.  I think that all relationships ebb and flow and the key is to pay attention to when you've hit a difficult period and address it. 
    image Mabel the Loser.
  • I'm sorry you're having this rough patch.  I have several friends who have done counseling, with success.  Good luck with everything.
  • I'm sorry you guys are going through this Sam. It's good that you can both recognize when you need help.

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  • if he said something to upset her she didn't want to respond right away because she was so angry she would flip. But then if she waited she would be rehashing old shiit.

    jesus christo, that's it in a nutshell!  Except he's me and she's he

    He's up for it because I'm insisting it's the only way forward.   clearly, what we've tried so far (sticking our heads int eh sand) isn't working.

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  • I did couples, but not marriage counseling. I think both people have to be in it for similar reasons. For me, he went solely to keep me from leaving him, not because he had any desire to have our relationship improve.

    I also think it is key to pick the counselor together and have equal responsibility in the decision and work it takes to schedule the appointments etc.

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    If I were a man (or fitty) I'd totally call my penis THE WIZARD - HappyTummy
  • OK. now I feel bad about what I wrote. Sorry Sam.
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    image
    Book Review Blog

    If I were a man (or fitty) I'd totally call my penis THE WIZARD - HappyTummy
  • My parents went to counseling for a while when I was in middle school, and my mother has talked to me about it since I became an adult.  She said it was helpful in that it she learned (and my father realized) that my father had entered their marriage with certain preconceptions about love and relationships that weren't accurate or healthy.  They worked through those and became a lot happier.  Good luck!
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  • I think that is a common issue for most couples, really.

    Well then rest assured it will probably do wonders for the two of you. Good luck - once you get over the stigma of it all I think it kind of teaches you how to fight.
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    For less then ten cents a day, you can feed a hungry child.
  • imagemodb1rd:
    OK. now I feel bad about what I wrote. Sorry Sam.

    please don't.  i'm looking for the good/bad/ugly.

    Andy wants things to improve as much as I do, he just doesn't like asking for outside help to find direction.  

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  • coming out of lurkerdom... we've been in counseling for almost 2 months. Granted this is not the first time I've been (been individually and as a couple previously) but I love it. We are both learning so much about ourselves and our relationship. My H wasnt interested in going at first, but he really feels he's getting a lot out of it now. You definately have to find someone you connect with and feel comfortable talking to. Dont feel bad if you need to try a couple different counselors. The most important thing is to find one you like. Good luck. I hope it all works out for you.
  • No advice, but I admire you both for recognizing that you need it and being willing to put in the effort.  That says a lot about you and your relationship.  Good luck!
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  • Um, ME!

    It is without a doubt the SMARTEST thing we've ever done. It sounds weird but we never "learned" how to be married...if that makes sense. We weren't communicating well at all, so the dumbest shiit would turn into WW3. It didn't help that we were both clinically depressed and living in a city where we knew no one. Anyway.

    I pretty much got our counselor's name from our insurance website, but we really lucked out. She's great, has a good sense of humor, doesn't judge...I will say that we couldn't do it if we weren't both 100% on board. You both need to commit to the work it takes, however frustrating it gets. And it does get frustrating.

    I'm sure none of that helped, but hang in there!

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    I bet her FUPA's name is Shane, like the gunslinger/drifter of literature.--HappyTummy
  • If you have a general practitioner you trust, you can usually get a good rec from him/her!

    I'm a huge advocate of counseling in general- both of us go solo every few months as preventative maintenance (lots of crazy on my mom's side). Both of us are also totally open to going together too, just to keep our relationship healthy.

    It's REALLY important to find someone that you're both comfortable with, though, and to not give up if the first person (or first couple of people) you see aren't a good fit.

    Steph and Chris, 6/26/10
    Planned Executed
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  • I've gone twice by myself and DH has gone once by himself - both to the same lady though she was very careful not to talk too much about the other person.  We wanted to try it separately at first and felt so much improvement that we never went back as a couple.  I was dealing with some health stuff that was making me feel super bummed and it was rubbing off on him so we learned how to communicate about it and get through it.  So I think there is definitely some benefit even if you go a couple times by yourself first.  It was crazy how well this lady pin pointed exactly what I was dealing with.  It felt like she was in my head. 

    Good luck Sam!!!!

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