How Interpersonal Neurobiology and Wellness Competencies Support a Thriving Marriage

In our fast-paced and often stress-filled world, relational challenges have become one of the most significant factors impacting mental health. While marriage can be a source of strength, love, and joy, it can also bring about stress that impacts mental well-being. These challenges can sometimes lead to conflicts, misunderstandings, and feelings of isolation, gradually impacting mental health for both partners. Addressing these stressors with intention and compassion is essential for both individual well-being and a flourishing marriage.

By understanding how relational stresses affect the mind, body, and spirit, we can use approaches rooted in interpersonal neurobiology and the Wellness Competency Mindset to strengthen and nurture marriages. In my latest book, A Marriage That Thrives, I explore how these tools can help couples transform marital stress into growth opportunities and bring resilience, peace, and purpose to their relationships.

How Relational Stresses Impact Mental Health

Marital conflicts are among the most intense forms of relational stress. Common challenges, such as differences in communication styles, unaddressed trauma, financial pressures, and parenting decisions, can create tension and unease. When stressors go unresolved, they not only cause emotional strain but can also affect mental health by increasing anxiety, depression, and even physical health issues due to chronic stress responses.

Relationships impact our mental health through a powerful feedback loop where emotional pain affects both partners’ mental states. This pain often manifests in stress-related mental health symptoms, such as:

• Anxiety and Worry: Constantly worrying about a partner’s feelings or the state of the marriage can create an undercurrent of anxiety.
• Depression and Loneliness: Lack of emotional connection or feeling unsupported can lead to a sense of loneliness, which may contribute to depression.
• Emotional Suppression: When partners avoid discussing painful issues, it can create “silent suffering,” where unexpressed emotions lead to built-up frustration, resentment, and mental fatigue.

To break the cycle of relational stress impacting mental health, we must look to the science of interpersonal neurobiology, a powerful approach to understanding relationships and the mind.

Join me for the upcoming launch of my 7th book. The Marriage That Thrives as I explore this link on October 31, 2024. Register here

To Your Wellness

Joyce

Joyce Odidison is a keynote speaker, thought leader, and global leader on well-being. She pioneered the Wellness Improvement System® and the Well-being Intelligence Curriculum™, a four-step process to identify and reduce hidden risks impacting psychological safety, performance, and well-being. With 27 years as a Conflict Analyst, Corporate Trainer, University Lecturer, and Master Certified Coach, she guides clients from high-stress conflicts to interpersonal wellness. As President and CEO of Interpersonal Wellness Services Inc., Joyce developed the first ICF-approved Wellness Coach Training program, the Global Workplace Wellness Summit, and the Wellness Competency Academy. She provides targeted well-being solutions for EAPs, HR departments, health plans, and workplace wellness programs, leaving an enduring impact on the field of mental wellness and resilience. She can be reached at www.joyceodidison.com