Help Your Partner Open Up To You

Being in a relationship should have many benefits, including having someone that you can go to to talk about anything. Bustle, and licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Annie Hsueh, PhD, explains that there are ways you can help your partner open up to you if they are struggling to share their feelings.

• Tell them what you see in a certain situation if they are struggling to put into words how they are feeling about something that just happened. Trying to connect with them by explaining how you perceived the situation can help them find the words to discuss it as well.
• Give them space if that's what they are asking for. Some of us need to talk things through, and others need time to process things alone first and then talk it out. If your partner is asking you for some space, give it to them. They may not be able to talk to you right away like you want them to, so you need to be patient.
• Allow them to be angry if that's what they need to feel about a certain situation. Negative emotions are just as valid as positive ones, so if your partner needs to be mad for a little while, let them. Don't try to tell them how they "should" be feeling.

Having patience and being understanding are two of the best things that you can be for a partner who is struggling to express themselves and open up to you. Support them no matter what emotions they are displaying (unless it is turning out to be harmful to you, them, or anyone else).

(via Bustle)