An expert has shared crucial advice on tackling a rising relationship trend and the potential harm of overlooking it.
Navigating relationships is challenging, even in the best circumstances. People evolve, situations become complex, and feelings might fade.
In both long-term partnerships and marriages, there’s a trend gaining attention: quiet divorcing.
If you’re familiar with quiet-quitting or quiet-vacationing, this is a similar concept.
Quiet divorcing refers to a partner discreetly withdrawing emotionally from the relationship.
Julian Bremner, a specialist in couples’ conflicts at Rayden Solicitors, discussed this trend and cautioned against embracing it, even if dissatisfaction exists in your current relationship.
Bremner explained the importance of addressing conflict and potential resentment in a marriage healthily rather than ignoring them.
She noted, “The key to managing conflict and resentment within a marriage is dialogue. Keeping open the channels of communication and trying to understand the other parties’ thoughts and feelings will go a long way to managing difficulties in the relationship.”
She issued a warning: “This is why ‘quiet quitting’ your marriage is not recommended, as hiding your feelings instead of communicating openly can leave your partner feeling betrayed.
“It is also important to acknowledge that, whilst you may not agree with your partners’ position, they may have a legitimate right to think and feel as they do and acknowledging that and trying to ‘walk in their shoes’ can only help.”
Bremner emphasized the importance of self-awareness, even if you’re considering emotionally distancing yourself from your partner, as it’s beneficial for both parties.
She added, “The final piece of advice is having some self-awareness, and with that, some self-reflection. Resentments, worries and feelings of tension need to be examined carefully to ensure, for yourself, that these concerns and tensions are valid and are not being generated by an uncharitable part of you. This takes some maturity, but your partner deserves your mature self.”
The expert suggested simple actions to improve your relationship if you sense a growing distance.
Bremner highlighted the importance of breaking from routine, spending time together, and reminding each other of your mutual affection.
She concluded, “What is important is to have time for yourselves away from any children you may have. Pack them off to the grandparents or your sisters/brothers and spend time just together in doing your little tasks or enjoyments so that you have time for yourselves as adults and a couple rather than just as parents and carers.”