COVID-19 has disrupted our normal life and confined us into the spaces of our homes. Many people have been isolated in their houses for weeks, and there is a lack of certainty in how long the quarantines will last. This confinement impacts couples, too. Being in constant, close proximity with each other can erode the novelty in their relationships and bring in grumpiness, irritability, and defensiveness. Even my wife, Yvonne Rainbow Teplitsky, and I recently had our own experience with grumpiness and irritability - and made it through. Rainbow is an artist and the founder & owner of the Artsy Goddess Studio.

In today’s episode, Rainbow and I share our recent experience with grumpiness and the steps we took to manage it. We illustrate why grumpiness is a contagion and discuss how a person should react when their partner is grumpy. We discuss COVID-19’s impact on our mood and emotions and describe how defensiveness can erode a relationship. We also highlight the power of humor in alleviating grumpiness as well as underscore how self-awareness and self-care can help combat irritability and defensiveness.

 

“Have time for reflection and kindness; be with each other and ourselves.” - Yvonne Rainbow Teplitsky

 

 

This week on Relationships! Let’s Talk About It:

• Our recent experience with grumpiness and how we managed it
• Why grumpiness and irritability are like contagions
• How to react when your partner is grumpy or irritated
• How the pandemic can make us moody
• The correlation between lack of sleep and grumpiness
• Why you shouldn’t take another person’s bad mood personally
• How to influence another person’s mood through kindness and humor
• Giving your partner space when they’re not in a good mood
• The impact of self-awareness on combating irritability and defensiveness
• How defensiveness can erode the quality of a relationship
• Irritability and grumpiness as symptoms of mood disorders and body pain
• The effect of movies on our mood and emotions

 

Related Content:

• Understanding and Managing Differences in Your Relationships
• The Art of Apology
• The Power of Appreciation
• Emotional Regulation

 

Connect with Yvonne Rainbow Teplitsky:

• Artsy Goddess Studio
• Yvonne on LinkedIn
• Yvonne on Facebook
• Email: [email protected]

 

 

Let’s Talk About It!

 

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Theme music “These Streets” provided by Adi the Monk