Couples Face Relationship Challenges During the Pandemic

Therapist discusses the difficulties of living together The daily coexistence imposed by confinement as a preventive measure against the new coronavirus has brought challenges to relationships. The number of separation cases between May and June increased by more than 24% nationwide, according to data from the Notary College of Brazil, which represents the notaries working in registries. The uncertainty of the scenario has impacted decision-making and changes in life regarding interpersonal relationships. "It is essential to understand that extreme situations often trigger changes, as many need to reach an extreme to make the decision to change. And the pandemic was an extreme. This may have been the trigger for decision-making during this period, made by people in various areas of life," says therapist Renata Costanzo, a specialist in emotional infrastructure and spirit-mind-body realignment. The daily routine, 24 hours a day, and the deprivation of interaction with other people have affected relationships. Small occurrences, such as a towel on the bed, a pile of dirty dishes, or the toilet lid being left up, end up gaining greater proportions and can bring unresolved issues to the surface. "When a relationship is not going well for one, it is also not going well for the other. And as dialogue has become increasingly scarce and expectations ever higher, couples often stop getting to know each other. When each person fails to notice that they have changed and sees this as part of their evolution, they cannot look at the other as someone new," reflects the therapist and specialist in emotional infrastructure. According to Renata, daily situations should be observed without judgment. It is about being attentive to one's own reactions and learning to deal with problems as opportunities for learning. The daily practice of self-observation can also be an ally. "It is essential to understand that a person only deals with their partner when they first resolve to deal with themselves. In moments of coexistence, everything becomes magnified, and dissatisfaction with oneself resonates with those nearby. But there are couples who use this to resolve their issues and end up starting over," highlights therapist Renata Costanzo. Renata reminds us that when people choose to first look at what bothers them before making decisions, they have the opportunity to feel good, whether inside or outside the relationship. "So, even if the decision is separation, it will happen naturally. And if what unites the couple prevails amid changes, it will strengthen in the process and allow the relationship to grow together. A relationship is good when it is good for both. And if someone is extremely dissatisfied, they will not be able to have a good relationship with anyone because they are not doing well with themselves," she warns. Renata Costanzo She is a therapist, specialist in emotional infrastructure and spirit-mind-body realignment. Originally from Vitória, she has a multidisciplinary background, working in various areas such as Tourism, Marketing, Administration, and Management, until she recognized her vocation. In the pursuit of self-knowledge, she invested in courses on holistic therapies, integrative practices, and psychoanalysis, and from her experiences and discoveries, she idealized Reinsight Self-Knowledge and Therapies, integrating techniques such as Spirit-Mind-Body Realignment, Insight through Tarot, Access Bars®, and the Multidimensional Healing System. Thus, Renata has been assisting people in their own journeys of self-knowledge and self-healing.