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WebMD Feature Reviewed byKimball Johnson, MD
Having a chronic illness such as diabetes, arthritis, or multiple sclerosis can take a toll on even the best relationship. The partner who's sick may not feel the way he or she did before the illness. And the person who's not sick may not know how to handle the changes. The strain may push both people's understanding of "in sickness and in health" to its breaking point.
Studies show that marriages in which one spouse has a chronic illness are more likely to fail if the spouses are young. And spouses who are caregivers are six times more likely to be depressed than spouses who do not need to be caregivers.
Recommended Related to Sex & Relationships Making Lust LastBy Keith Ablow, M.D. Rekindling Passion For The Husband You Still Love People sometimes tell me they know a couple married 20 years whose sex lifeis still as good as it ever was. Here's what I tell them in return: "Thereare only three possibilities. One: This couple is lying. Two: They are tellingthe truth, because they didn't have good sex to begin with. Or three: Sex isall they really have together. They never connected emotionally."I've drawn that conclusion by listening...
Read the Making Lust Last article > >Clinical psychologist Rosalind Kalb, vice president of the professional resource center at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, says, "Even in the best marriages, it's hard. You feel trapped, out of control, and helpless."
But with patience and commitment, there are ways you and your partner can deal with the strain a chronic illness can place on your relationship.
1. CommunicateRelationships can suffer when people don't discuss problems that have no easy or obvious solution, Kalb says. And that lack of discussion can lead to feelings of distance and a lack of intimacy.
"Finding ways to talk openly about challenges," she says, "is the first step toward effective problem-solving and the feelings of closeness that come from good teamwork."
Marybeth Calderone has limited use of her legs and hands because of a neurological disorder called Charcot-Marie-Tooth. Her husband Chris says that figuring out when to communicate is his biggest challenge.
"My wife gets frustrated with herself when she can't do things, like organize our 8-year-old daughter's desk," he says. "A lot of times, I'm not sure if Marybeth is angry at me or with her condition. Often, I try to figure it out on my own and don't say anything.”
The right level of communication is key. Boston College social work professor Karen Kayser says, "If the couple is consumed with talking about the illness, that's a problem. If they never talk about it, it's also a problem. You have to find a middle ground."
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 Next Page > #url_reference {display: none};#url_reference { display: block; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10px; }#logo_rdr img { visibility: visible; }.titleBar_rdr .titleBarMiddle_fmt { padding-top: 1.5em !important;} Top Picks When Sex Triggers 'Accidents' What's New in Sex Therapy Antidepressants: Sexual Side Effects and More Getting Intimate: Talking Together About ED Is Your Mouth Kissably Healthy? Find Out How Diabetes Affects A Woman's Sexual Health Further Reading: If sex is painful, will avoiding sex cause it to hurt less? How often do married people have sex? Is Your Marriage Bliss, or a Miss? What Does "For Worse" Look Like? What Your Friend's Divorce Means for Your Marriage The 'Good Enough' Marriage First Marriages Often End in Divorce See All Marriage Topics Health & Sex Home Health & Sex News Health & Sex Reference Health & Sex Videos Sexual Health Community Health & Sex Questions and Answers Health & Sex Glossary













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