Request Newsletter | Bridal Online Website | Return To Main Page

Marriage & Wedding Information


Control Issues That Cause Marriage Problems


Have you ever been irritated because your spouse does things differently than you do? Do you get upset if he or she has different opinions and makes different choices than you would? If so, you have bumped up against some of your own personal control issues and triggers in your marriage. Here are three important points to consider:

1. Fear underlies control issues.

Control issues cause problems in many marriages. The feelings you experience at those times can be very intense and may include rage at the other person. Most people feel more secure when others around them mirror their opinions, beliefs, and choices. Your safety needs and fears contribute to your wanting others to be just like you. The old adage, "There is safety in numbers," refers to this primitive fear of standing alone.

Also, many people feel more in control when they can predict the behavior of others and when others meet their expectations. Then they don't have to experience the discomfort of growing, changing, or stretching themselves. Instead, they can pretend that their world is logical, orderly, predictable, and safe.

2. Thinking your spouse should be just like you harms your marriage.

Your control issues are also triggered by viewing your spouse as an extension of yourself. This perception can result in trying to dictate which clothes your spouse wears, how she wears her hair, who she is friends with, what political views she holds, and what she can or cannot do. While your spouse may initially make some changes trying to keep the peace, you are creating a parent-child dynamic in your relationship that will eventually foster rebellion and resentment.

3. Using insults and name calling are attempts to regain control.

While nothing sinister is involved in many control issues in relationships, pathological behavior can be triggered in some instances. For example, a partner who is angry that the spouse did not follow his dictates could become physically and emotionally abusive. The partner may think he has the right to "punish" the other person. Name calling and derogatory put-downs, such as "What a stupid thing to do," are often used to re-establish control over the other person.

It's easy to point a finger at your spouse and to state that he or she needs to change. It's hard to face your own unresolved issues head-on and take responsibility for how you need to change. As you become more aware of control issues in your marriage, the starting place for change is always with yourself and your response to what is happening.

Nancy J. Wasson, Ph.D., is co-author of Keep Your Marriage: What to Do When Your Spouse Says "I don't love you anymore!" This is available as an e-book at http://www.KeepYourMarriage.com ,where you can also sign up for the free Keep Your Marriage Internet Magazine. Nancy can be contacted at Nancy@KeepYourMarriage.com.


MORE RESOURCES:

Certified Vacations Group, Inc. & CaribbeanWeddings.Com Announce ...
MarketWatch - 6 hours ago
Under terms of the partnership, Certified Vacations will launch a new CaribbeanWeddings.com brand offering complete travel and destination wedding planning ...


Gay Rights Protest Planned For Gov. Crist's Wedding
Tampa Tribune, FL - 32 minutes ago
Charlie Crist's wedding to Carole Rome this month. The group Impact-Florida has called on its members to gather in pink T-shirts outside First United ...
Gay rights group to protest at Crist's wedding WWSB ABC 7
Gay Rights Group To Protest At Crist's Wedding Central Florida News 13|
Gay rights group to protest at Crist's wedding Tampabay.com
Palm Beach Post
all 23 news articles


Discounts, New Client Specials at Lather Hair Salon Grand Opening
MarketWatch - 5 hours ago
RALEIGH, NC, Dec 01, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Lather Hair Salon, a premiere full service salon specializing in on-location wedding designs and total ...


NEWS.com.au

Wedding day marks couples' first kiss
ABC15.com (KNXV-TV), AZ - 4 hours ago
When Melody LaLuz and Claudaniel Fabien stood and faced each other on the altar over the weekend, the blushing bride and new groom shared more than wedding ...
Now you may kiss the bride Chicago Sun-Times
Jockstrip: The world as we know it. United Press International
Chicago couple wait for first kiss at the altar The Associated Press
Chicago Tribune - Chicago Sun-Times
all 283 news articles


Finding a Great Wedding Photographer
American Chronicle, CA - 3 hours ago
Surely you have heard this expression before and it is never more true than at a wedding. The pictures are the permanent record of the celebration that is ...


Zap2it.com

No wedding bells for Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr
Examiner.com - 7 hours ago
by Jennifer Lewis, Los Angeles Celebrity Examiner On Sunday, the Australian newspaper The Sunday Telegraph reported that the two had got engaged and were ...
Orlando Bloom & Miranda Kerr not engaged RTE.ie
Report: Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr set to marry ChattahBox
Orlando Bloom: I’m not engaged to Miranda Kerr Now Magazine Online
Los Angeles Times - Boston Herald
all 98 news articles


BBC News

Wedding wings of love for couple
BBC News, UK - Nov 30, 2008
A couple in Greater Manchester had a wedding with a difference when the rings were flown in by a special guest. Fudge the barn owl flew onto the arm of ...
Owl makes the wedding day Manchester Evening News
all 2 news articles


Wedding Paper Divas Offers Chance to Win Free Wedding Invitations ...
PR Web (press release), WA - 12 hours ago
Wedding Paper Divas (www.weddingpaperdivas.com), a leading online retailer of premium, customizable wedding stationery, announced today the launch of its ...


CharlotteObserver.com

Eva Longoria Hits Roselyn Sanchez’s Wedding
Just Jared, NY - Nov 30, 2008
Eva Longoria makes a Tony Parker-less appearance at the the wedding of her pal Roselyn Sanchez’s wedding in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Saturday. ...
Roselyn Sanchez Wedding Pictures — FIRST LOOK Just Jared Jr.
Eric Winter And Roselyn Sanchez Are Married: New Wedding Pictures! Post Chronicle
Winter wedding down south Tb Television
The Gossip Girls - AceShowbiz
all 297 news articles


Mirror.co.uk

Naomi’s rep denies wedding to Russian billionaire
Screen Weekly, India - 12 hours ago
Claims of the model planning a small, low-key wedding, with just close friends and family surfaced especially after she asked them to keep themselves free ...
Naomi Campbell dismisses Russian wedding reports Catwalk Queen
NAOMI CAMPBELL - CAMPBELL 'NOT PLANNING RUSSIAN WEDDING' Contactmusic.com
Naomi's PDA of leaves crowd gagging Times of India
Mirror.co.uk
all 24 news articles

Wedding - Google News

home | site map

Site Map | Site Map | Links

© 2006