Do you feel tired of having to struggle with logistics in a long distance relationship? Do you and your partner struggle to maintain a feeling of closeness in such a situation? If so, then this post is for you!
Long Distance Relationship Challenges are Super-Common
People who are in long distance relationships have always struggled to maintain a good and healthy connection, considering their inherent challenges. You’re not the first to have had to deal with such perplexing issues. The challenge in maintaining a sense of connection despite the physical distance has perhaps never been more challenging than it is today.
How Long Distance Relationships Make Love and Connection Difficult
Starting long distance relationships isn’t really that much of a challenge. It’s more about trying to maintain those over time that becomes wearing for partners. Having that initial stage of euphoria about finding someone, even if they’re halfway across the country or in another country is so exhilarating that it makes everything seem worthwhile. It’s the attempt to build a relationship over time that creates such a challenge.
How to Cope With Long Distance Relationship Stressors
One of the keys that can help to significantly alleviate relationship stress is focusing on eventually living together in the same city or locality. This isn’t something that immediately needs to be agreed upon, but it is important for a long-term focus for the two of you to maintain closeness and enthusiasm for each other. Another thing that helps coping with this situation is regular FaceTime, or other forms of communication that allow you to establish and maintain a strong emotional connection considering the separation of the miles. It should ideally happen at least a couple of times a week, but often enough that you all can have some semblance of really getting to know each other and building a relationship to the extent possible considering the physical distance. Also, being able to look forward to the times that you all do spend together, however spread out they may be, is important for coping with stress also. The fact that you have a partner also should not be a bar to having friends and activities where you live to focus on as well in between the visits for the two of you.
What if You Continue to Struggle with Long Distance Relationship Stress?
I have helped clients in successfully coping with the stress of being in a long-distance relationship, as well as having some of that experience in my dating past as well. I’d be happy to talk to you about how I might be able to help you in your current situation, if you just call the number at the top of the page, fill out the schedule consultation button above, or fill out an inquiry form below. I’ll get back to you ASAP if you live in MD or VA in order to schedule a brief 15 minute phone consultation to give you a better idea about whether I can help you. There’s so much time and energy that’s put into making these kinds of relationships work, you deserve the support of a trained professional to be able to navigate this successfully.
Visit our page on couples therapy to find out about how Scott can help you in navigating long distance relationship stress.
About the author: Scott Kampschaefer, LCSW is a private practice therapist in Frederick, Maryland. He has an extensive background in working with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder at a clinic for older adults with these disorders in Austin, Texas. He now works with adults and adolescents 14 and up in private practice. His most recent book is titled The 5 Pillars of Addiction Recovery and is available for purchase on Amazon and in paperback on this website.