Because conflict is virtually inevitable in relationships (and not necessarily a sign of trouble), you can reduce a significant amount of stress and strengthen your relationships at the same time if you build the knowledge and skills to handle conflict in a healthy way. Here are some examples of negative and even destructive attitudes and communication patterns that can exacerbate conflict in a relationship. It’s much healthier to address and resolve conflict. These assertiveness communication skills can help you to say things in a way where you will be more likely to be heard, without being disrespectful to the other person. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Also, don’t bring up past conflicts to throw the discussion off-topic and stir up more negativity. This stands in the way of true conflict resolution and increases the level of conflict. Sometimes we’re not aware of the ways the mind can blow things out of proportion. This list of common cognitive distortions can get in the way of healthy relationships with others and can exacerbate stress levels. See which ones may be familiar to you.
