Is It OK To Depend On Your Partner?

Can you be too connected?

Have you ever wondered, in the midst of your relationship, if you are too dependent on your partner? What if your loved one makes you happier when they are around? What if you miss them when they are gone? What if they are the first person you seek with both good and bad news? Is this healthy?

MFTs, or Marriage, Couple and Family therapists, would say not only is this healthy but it’s also natural. From infancy, humans need help from others for sustenance, survival, and love. Those early relationships with caregivers set the stage for attachments to significant others later in life. Studies show that adults in loving, satisfying relationships are more likely to handle stress better, live longer, experience fewer colds, and even recover from physical injuries faster. Humans are created to be interdependent and to thrive in loving relationships.

In reality, not all relationships and experiences are loving. Sometimes painful incidents leave injuries that last and can affect current relationships. MFTs believe the best way to heal pain is with the support of loved ones. Rather than allowing hurt and anxieties to isolate people, couples and family therapy works to use relationships as a way to heal and connect people further. If you are interested in learning more about this work and how to improve your relationships, contact me.