Signs of Isolation
It's tragic, but true. Many married couples feel completely alone and isolated, even from each other. But there IS hope!
Program: Real FamilyLife
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Dennis Rainey: It's tragic, but true. Many married couples feel completely alone and isolated, even from each other. But there IS hope!
Guest: What comes to my mind when you say isolation - when two people are married, but they don't talk and they're just barely friends. [ Read Full Transcript ]
You go on a date, and you talk about the mortgage.
Dennis Rainey: Here are some signs of isolation that you may notice in your marriage:
First, a feeling that your spouse isn't hearing you and doesn't want to understand. Perhaps there's an attitude of, "Who cares?" "Why try?" "Tomorrow we'll talk about it--let's just get some sleep." Or maybe it's a feeling of being unable to meet the expectations of your spouse, to really please them. Another sign of isolation in marriage is a refusal to cope with what's really wrong: "That's your problem, not mine." And finally, there's a feeling that keeping the peace by avoiding conflict is better than the pain of dealing with reality.
If those sound are familiar to you, don't despair. God loves to bring dead things to life, to reconcile relationships.
One final thought. Fighting isolation takes a lot of hard work. It starts with humility and admitting, "I'm a art of the problem," and recognizing that you're also a part of the solution. Don't give up!
I'm Dennis Rainey, and that's Real FamilyLife.
Date: 9/15/2008 12:00:00 AM
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