Partners or not?
by Mark
(Seattle)
I have clinical depression, which I take medicine for. I also get anxiety, which is triggered by certain things. One of those things is a cluttered, messy house. I have been trying to clean and organize the house. However, I get almost no help from my partner. Sometimes, my son will help...a little. But, most of the time, everyone in the house is sitting on their butts while I am cleaning.
I have a bad back but push through the pain to get the house to a state where it could be easier to keep relatively clean. My partner complains of physical maladies that prevent them from helping. She hasn't been able to keep a job during Covid long enough to get insurance. I am starting to resent her.
I love her but whenever I mention my anxiety, she responds with a malady of her own. I feel like she doesn't take me seriously.
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You always maintained your impartiality with us. You encouraged Rita to be more assertive in stating what she wanted to get from your counseling sessions, as well as what she wanted to get from the relationship. You taught both of us better communication between ourselves, which lead to an emotional comfort level between us that didn't exist before. You took control of the direction of the session if things were not moving along. Thanks so much for helping us." Rita and Mark |
