Constant togetherness may have you hyper-aware of your partner’s irritating traits.
Learn how to stop being annoyed and reframe the negatives as positives.
Over timeeven in regular circumstancescertain quirks that you find lightly irritating can grow to a level of debilitating irksomeness.
Does the TV need to be on 24/7?Must they constantly be texting their friends?
Why cant they just terminate the cabinets?You get the idea.
Their negative traits have probably been there all along.
Chicago-based psychotherapist
They just bother you more now that youre stuck at home with them.
Their negative traits have probably been there all along, she says.
So you might want to figure out how to stop being annoyed around them now.
For example, you mightwishtheyd hang their wet towels up more neatly, but crooked towels arent hurting you.
Maintaining such perspective is important, agrees relationship expert and psychotherapistLaurel Steinberg, PhD.
These traits usually register low on the scale of offensive behaviors, she says.
Rather than focus in on the symptom, we should dial in on the cause.
This allows for space within a somewhat claustrophobic and isolating situation.
Remember, you have annoying traits, too, says Dr. Nelson.
Chicago-based psychotherapist
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