How to Rescue a Damaged Relationship

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If there has been infidelity or trust has been broken, it’s important to take full responsibility for what happened and be understanding of how your behavior hurt your partner.

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Take full responsibility if you’re at fault

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Trust can never be restored until the person whose trust was broken allows their partner a chance to earn it back

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Give your partner the opportunity to win your trust back

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Instead of bottling up emotions, Kraushaar encourages couples to be “radically transparent” with each other about what has hurt them. This involves truly getting it all out there, even if you feel a bit silly or self-conscious admitting certain things.

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Practice radical transparency

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If there’s been a significant breach, consider working together with a qualified therapist who specializes in relationships and can provide guidance for healing.

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Seek professional help

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If you’ve hurt your partner, it’s easy to fall into a spiral of shame and disappointment in yourself. But that’s not going to help either of you.

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Extend compassion and care

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Discuss with your partner, set ground rules for exclusivity and commitment. Be honest about expectations from the start to avoid future issues.

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Manage expectations

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Scheduled visits are crucial for long-distance couples. Planning and anticipating reunions reduce stress and enhance satisfaction, according to research.

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Have regularly scheduled visits

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If you’re not able to organize scheduled time together due to significant distance or finances, Kraushaar recommends setting up regular online dates with a theme or specific focus.

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Set aside time for online dates

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While it’s important to pay attention to fostering closeness in a long-distance relationship, that aspect shouldn’t consume you.

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Don’t let your world revolve around your partner

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Set a dedicated weekly time for discussing sensitive topics like money, , and trust. This prevents them from impacting your overall interactions.

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Plan a weekly ‘couples meeting’

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