Fighting in Relationships

All couples fight. It's an inevitable part of being in a relationship. In fact, therapists worry most about couples who don't fight. (those who never fight have double the divorce rate, compared with those who do!)

But how much fighting is healthy in relationships? It depends. Arguments aren't inherently bad, but it's important to know how to fight - and how not to.

1. Don't let anger and criticism take over.

Anger and criticism can cause stress to soar and lead to irrational thinking so try to avoid it by talking positively. Otherwise, if anger is taking over, try breathing exercises, time-outs, or humor.

2. Agree to disagree.

Agreeing to disagree is sometimes the best solution. Couples will have their differences, and that's fine as long as you can discuss them with respect and self-control.

3. End conflict in a win-win way.

Try pausing to ask, "Can we talk about this is a different way?" Or you might compromise, which is definitely an important factor for resolving issues in a fair way.

In the end, it takes practice to learn how to "fight right" so just try to remember what's most important - we all just want to be close to and understood by the ones we love the most.

How do you resolve fights? Do you and your partner have rules? Please share any insights and advice!