The fundamentals of our lives revolve around the relationships we form with other people, the world around us, and ourselves. Our mental health directly affects our interactions with others. In recent years, there has been a shift in how we perceive psychological health. Something considered taboo in previous years has become an important aspect of our daily lives. Awareness around mental well-being has increased, especially after the pandemic, as everyone had to pivot toward certain new norms.
How mental health influences maturity in relationships
Mental issues have a dramatic effect on anyone’s life. Everything depends on our mental well-being, from mundane daily tasks to important life goals. Reaching a state of emotional maturity takes time. This is also dependent on one’s psychological state. The most dreadful impact that psychological problems have is on our relationships. As we go about our routine, we interact with many people. If something is on our minds, it eventually starts reflecting how we communicate and act around these people.
Over the years, there has been a lot of research on this topic. Students are asked to write essays that discuss the impacts of mental issues, and there are a lot of argumentative essay examples about mental health that will help you understand the gravity of the situation. Students and scholars have been interested in finding ways to curb the effects of such issues. Mental health essays also talk about how to deal with signs of lack of maturity in any relationship. Read why I want to be a mental health counsellor essay, and you’ll see how many students aspire to help others find maturity in their feelings.
Factors affecting the psychological state
Difficulty in communication
The key to any relationship is conveying thoughts – whether in a marriage, friendship, or familial bonds. If one person is having difficulty with something in their life and does not talk about it to another, it starts affecting the dynamics of their relationship. People struggling with extreme mental issues may struggle to articulate their sentiments. This makes it difficult to have a conversation which causes the relationship to break down.
Severe issues like depression make people indifferent toward communicating, leading to hiccups like anxiety which causes mistrust between people. Moreover, depression can manifest in a bond and transfer from one person to another. This shows how unintentional misunderstandings let grievances fester.
Resentment
Every individual comes from a distinct background. As we mature, our environment and experiences shape what we expect from a relationship. Resentment is most likely to develop between couples when these expectations are not met. As people grow, expectations are likely to change. For a mature and healthy marriage, it is vital to understand that there is always room for development and change. If one person doesn’t act how the other expects, it will be upsetting and give way to resentment.
Parenting
Family bonds are prone to be affected by mental issues. A family is strongest when both parents are present, understanding, and value emotional stability. If one parenting figure is under a lot of stress, it is likely to affect the lives of the children. Many research paper examples scrutinise parenting methods. Issues like depression, burnout, and trauma are handed down through generations. The ignorance of such issues and lack of proper support lead to permanent alterations in a child’s personality.
Fatigue
Fatigue is almost inevitable these days. Dealing with a mental problem or helping another go through it takes its toll on even the strongest and oldest relationships. It is, therefore, important to always keep yourself in check. Talk about your condition instead of bottling up thoughts to protect the other person. For your own mental well-being and your partner’s, taking time out and rest is vital to recharge and gain some perspective.
How to manage psychological health in a relationship?
Considering all the above aspects, first identify signs of mental issues within yourself. Accepting that you’re suffering from a disease is the first step toward your own well-being.
Emotional maturity
An outcome of healthy psychological development is emotional maturity. However, this should always be regarded as a relative state and not permanent because this condition is never complete. This is why it is imperative to realize that psychological illness must at least be minimized if not cured. A person is said to be emotionally mature when they properly grasp their emotions and communicate them. Emotional maturity is achieved in a relationship when both people allow each other to learn from the other and the circumstances around them.
Your relationship with yourself
Our experience of our surroundings dictates our behaviours and how we socialise. One’s psychological state plays a vital role in societies and how we act as individuals. To gain maturity in our relationships, it is important to not let circumstances hinder our personal growth. A simple conflict in your head will manifest into something complicated if you choose to ignore it.
Many thoughts we have are automatic, and we might not pay attention to them. However, tuning into these thoughts and noticing whether they are positive or negative is helpful. The latter becomes dangerous to your mental well-being and causes self-hatred and loathing. If you are drowning in negative thoughts, seeking professional help, whether in person or online, is good. This is never a sign of weakness but displays strength and the willingness to work on your relationship with yourself.
Avid listening and communicating
As human beings, we like to tell our stories and be heard. While that is an important aspect of forming friendships, being on the other side is also important. Listening to your partner and forming good communication habits help manage issues in a marriage. If you realise your partner is going through a tough time, the first step should be politely communicating this. Sometimes it becomes difficult to talk about such issues when open it plays a big role.
Can people with psychological health issues achieve maturity in relationships?
Maturity in social environments is achieved when an individual is aware of their own worries. Communicating effectively helps manage a lot of tension that comes with mental disorders. Of course, it is possible to achieve maturity in any relationship. But first, accept the matter for what it is. Only then can a person take the necessary steps toward finding solutions. We continue to grow through our lives, which means maturity as individuals and in relationships is always relative.
Final thoughts
Communication skills can always be learned. Being able to speak from your sentiments instead of for your sentiments is an idea widely talked about in mental health article topics. Someone who talks from their sentiments lacks emotional stability. Talking for your sentiments is a technique many therapists use to help individuals form strong communication skills. Someone with a psychological disorder can quickly develop good coping mechanisms with the right help and therapy. This will help them manage their disease well enough to be emotionally mature.
Zuella Montemayor did her degree in psychology at the University of Toronto. She is interested in mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
