In every romantic comedy, there’s a montage of the couple doing cute things together—picnics, shared hobbies, synchronized bike rides through Central Park.

What you don’t see is the crucial subplot: Who’s losing themselves in this relationship and who’s thriving?

American culture has a love-hate relationship with individual identity in marriage. On one hand, we idolize independence (cue Beyoncé’s “Me, Myself, and I”); on the other, we cling to the idea that two people in love should merge into one gloriously entangled “we.”

But what happens when “we” devours “me”?

And how do we keep our sense of self while building a meaningful partnership?

As a couples therapist, I can tell you that neglecting individual identity within a relationship is like building a house on sand: it may hold up for a while, but sooner or later, massive cracks emerge.

Let’s dig into this topic, explore what the social science says.

Picture this: It’s a typical Thursday night. You and your spouse are scrolling through Netflix, both avoiding the burning question of who will pick tonight’s show.

You suggest a rom-com; they counter with a gritty true-crime docuseries. An innocent disagreement? Sure. But, beneath the surface, tiny, invisible resentments may already be simmering: Why do I always have to compromise?

Resentment in marriage is like rust. And Rust Never Sleeps.

It doesn’t start as a gaping hole in the hull of your relationship, but if left unchecked, it eats away at the foundation, leaving your partnership shaky and prone to collapse.

So, let’s dive into why resentment happens, how it festers, and what to do before you’re both watching TV in separate rooms.

High-stress jobs can test even the strongest relationships, but understanding the unique challenges and adopting practical strategies can help couples thrive together.

When one or both partners work in high-stress professions, the job can become a third presence in the relationship.

Healthcare workers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and corporate executives often face immense physical and emotional demands that impact their romantic lives.

Long hours, irregular schedules, exposure to trauma, and a pressure to perform can erode intimacy and connection.

To explore how these dynamics play out in real life, let’s dive into the lives of three couples facing unique challenges in high-stress professions. Along the way, we’ll discuss strategies for building resilience and maintaining emotional intimacy despite the pressures.

Over the past few decades, American women have made remarkable economic strides, challenging traditional gender roles and reshaping labor market dynamics.

Women's economic success can be attributed to various factors, including higher educational attainment, shifts in employment trends, and changing societal norms.

Conversely, American men are experiencing a decline in economic participation and success.

This disparity has significant implications for social structures, including the concept of hypergamy—marrying “up” economically—which is being redefined in this context.

In a world where dreams of white picket fences collide with skyrocketing home prices, a fascinating trend is reshaping the milestones of modern relationships.

Increasingly, couples are saying "I do" to homeownership before marriage, redefining what commitment looks like in today’s economic and social landscape.

But why is this shift happening, and what does it mean for relationships?

Let’s explore the reasons, benefits, and challenges of this emerging trend, all while celebrating the love and practicality that drive it.

Compassion fatigue is a concept frequently discussed in the context of professional caregiving—where doctors, nurses, and therapists experience emotional exhaustion from constant caregiving demands.

However, a similar phenomenon can occur in long-term relationships and marriages.

When one partner has a lived experience of continuously provides emotional support or care, especially during prolonged periods of stress or hardship, they may feel emotionally drained or detached over time.

This withdrawal doesn’t necessarily mean they love their partner any less; it simply reflects the natural limits of their emotional bank account.

Understanding compassion fatigue in personal relationships helps illuminate why some partners might retreat emotionally, even when they care deeply.

This post will explore research supporting this concept, alternative explanations, and a specific factor that can make compassion fatigue even more pronounced: self-absorption.

Modern life is chaotic. This was unthinkable in 1954, but today It’s increasingly common for couples to switch up traditional financial roles.

She might be the one climbing the corporate ladder while he’s handling household duties, or maybe both partners are taking turns as the primary earner.

These changes can feel empowering, freeing, and—sometimes—a little daunting.

When financial roles are reversed, they can bring up all sorts of emotions, from pride and excitement to insecurities or even unexpected tension.

Financial role reversals can impact our sense of identity, value, and connection in relationships. Let’s explore how these shifts affect us emotionally and relationally, and how to navigate this new territory with empathy, openness, and even a little humor.

Relationships are shaped by the environments in which they exist, and Australia’s unique blend of cultural diversity, vast geography, and shifting societal norms creates distinctive challenges for couples.

From the demands of long-distance living to the complexities of multicultural relationships and the pressures of work-life balance, this post probes key relationship issues in Australia and offers insights on navigating these challenges with resilience and empathy.

Love in the Time of Housing Bubbles: How Economic Pressures Shape Relationships in Canada
In Canada, home is more than just where the heart is—it’s also the topic of every family dinner, a major source of stress for young couples, and, in some cities, a distant dream.

With sky-high prices in cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and increasingly across the country, the Canadian housing bubble isn’t just a financial issue; it’s a relationship stressor.

For many couples, the struggle to buy a home—or even just afford rent—can put pressure on love in ways that their parents and grandparents may never have faced.

This post considers the unique challenges of the Canadian housing market, how they impact couples, and what research says about navigating financial strain without letting it come between you and your partner.

For many Canadians, winter isn’t just a season—it’s a way of life.

From the thrill of the first snowfall to cozy nights by the fire, there’s plenty to love about the cold months. But for some, the winter blues go much deeper than missing sunshine.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a common issue across Canada, where long, dark winters can have a profound effect on mood and mental health.

And when one or both partners are struggling with SAD, it can put unique strains on a relationship. This post takes a deep dive into how SAD impacts couples and explores the best practices for managing it together.

Maintaining a relationship is hard enough, but when your partner is three provinces away, it’s like trying to cuddle with an electric blanket that only works on one end.

Welcome to the unique joys and challenges of long-distance love in Canada, where the only thing more confusing than the miles between you is figuring out the time zone difference for that virtual date.

The Challenges of Distance

Canada is enormous—so massive that if you live in Vancouver and your partner is in Halifax, you might as well be dating someone in Europe.

This geographic reality has shaped many Canadian love stories, creating unique challenges that come with being separated by thousands of kilometers.

New research on the psychosexual and psychosocial effects of polygamous marriages provides a sobering view that contrasts sharply with the rose-tinted narratives often embraced in certain corners of American academia.

The study, published in BMC Women’s Health, digs deep into how polygamous relationships impact women’s sexual function and mental well-being.

Spoiler alert: it's not the paradise some progressive voices make it out to be.