You don’t have to be a Houston relationship counselor to know that everyone gets frustrated with their spouse now and then. It’s a normal part of being in a relationship, but how you handle this annoyance can make a big difference in the future of your marriage. Do you tend to simply call up a friend to dish some dirt? Or maybe you get together with a few buddies over some drinks to swap horror stories about your spouses? Venting your anger may make you feel good for a few minutes, but in the long run, it can harm your relationship.

Houston Relationship Counselor Shares the Ways That Venting Can Harm Your Marriage

One of the best pieces of marriage advice I can give couples is to learn forgiveness. We all make mistakes, and we all have flaws. It can be hard to “forgive and forget” if you are frequently sharing your partner’s errors with others. In fact, it can make you focus on them more, and over time, the problems can seem bigger than they are. You can actually feel more miserable or upset about your relationship than you would otherwise. Instead, try focusing on the positive things in your marriage, because it can actually make you happier.

Another major downfall of venting to friends is that you may not actually be communicating to the person who needs to know about your frustrations: your spouse. How will things ever get better if your partner doesn’t even know what’s bothering you?

Find ways to talk about your problems in an open but respectful way. If you are having trouble talking things through, seek help from the Houston relationship counselor.