Nicholas Purcell Psychotherapist

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Long distance relationships advice

Introduction

Love is a beautiful thing. When you have someone who cares about you, who wants to support and grow with you, it can be amazing. But if you're in a long-distance relationship, it can be hard. You might not see each other as often as you'd like, or at all sometimes. You might have trouble communicating with them when they're so far away from home. You might feel lonely even though they're right there next to you... And yet? Those are all just part of what makes long distance relationships so special! Here are some tips on how to make them work:

Be transparent and honest.

  • Be open and honest about your feelings. Don’t hide things from your partner. No matter how trivial they seem, they can be an indicator of something deeper going on inside you. And if you don’t share that with them, it will only get harder for them to understand where you are coming from when the time comes to talk about it.

  • Don't pretend to be happy when you're not. If there is something upsetting or frustrating happening in your life—whether it's at work or with friends—don't pretend everything is fine just because "it's too much trouble" or "it doesn't matter" or any other reason beyond the fact that being honest with each other matters more than anything else in this world!

Be available.

It's important to be available. If you have time to talk, then make time to talk. If you don't have time now, schedule a time when you can make some free minutes and stick to it.

Avoid distractions while on the phone or video call with your long distance partner. Try not to multitask while talking and keep the conversation focused on each other instead of what else is going on around you (your kids screaming, pets running around). If possible, try and find times during the day when both of your schedules align so that neither one of you has too much going on in their lives at once.

Fight fairly.

A long distance relationship is rough, and everyone’s going to have a bad day. It’s important to recognize when something is bothering the other person in order to help them feel better. If you notice your partner seems upset, talk about it before getting upset yourself. Remember that you both want what’s best for each other and will most likely be able to work through anything together!

At the end of the day, a long distance relationship means more effort on both fronts. Just because someone isn't there physically doesn't mean they're not right next door or across town; they're just far enough away that it's difficult for them to get back home quickly if they need/want something from us (or vice versa). We have phone calls instead of hugs; video chats instead of face-to-face interactions with our significant others 24/7; texting when we'd rather be together in person--and these things matter just as much as being able to hold hands or kiss goodnight under moonlight does!

Have shared interests.

Shared interests are one of the best ways to help you stay connected when you're apart. You can find shared activities or hobbies in a variety of places, including:

  • Your hometowns

  • The town where you went to school

  • Online communities (ex: Facebook groups)

  • Meetup.com

Don't leave things unsaid.

Don't leave things unsaid.

This is one of the most important lessons to learn as a long distance couple, and it's something I've learned through experience many times over. The best way to avoid any misunderstandings or hurt feelings is to communicate clearly with each other. Even if we think our partners know what we're thinking, they may have some doubts or uncertainty about the situation themselves. This can lead them to believe that it's okay not to work on their issues because they assume their partner isn't interested in working on them either—and this can lead to resentment and anger towards both parties.

When you're dealing with a long distance relationship, it's critical that both partners feel like their needs are being met on all fronts (emotionally, sexually, physically) and that they feel understood by their partner at all times along the way—especially when communicating verbally! If there's anything bothering either person during this time apart from just missing each other physically then there should be no shame in talking about it openly so they don't bottle up these feelings until later down the line when things get worse because neither party was able to express themselves freely within their relationship!

Understand that you may have to do different things with different times in your lives.

There is a lot of advice about how to maintain a long-distance relationship. Some of it applies to you, some of it does not. However, there are some common themes that can help you and your partner move forward with confidence:

  • Understand that life will change for both of you as you get older.

  • Don't get too used to the same routine - The first year is exciting because it's new and different but after that, things become familiar and comfortable which can lead to complacency if not careful attention paid by both parties involved in the relationship (or triad).

  • Don't get too comfortable with the same things - If something has been working well for a long time then don’t take it for granted because this might cause issues down the line when one person decides they want something more than what was originally agreed upon going into the relationship (e.g., sex). This could come up slowly over time or suddenly depending on how open someone is willing/able talk about their feelings which may lead into an uncomfortable situation where someone feels pressured into agreeing just so they won’t lose their partner altogether!

Long distance relationships require work and commitment, but they can work!

  • Don’t give up too soon. Long distance relationships can be tough, but they are not impossible to make work. If you are committed to making your long distance relationship work, then it will eventually get easier.

  • Ask for help when you need it and don’t be afraid to ask for help from friends, family or a professional therapist if needed!

  • Don't give up on yourself - stay active, go out of your comfort zone and meet new people!

  • Don't give up on your partner either - they need support too!

Conclusion

We hope that this list of long distance relationship advice is helpful for those who are in one. No matter what happens, remember to be honest and open with each other so that you can have a healthy relationship.