

{"id":27166,"date":"2018-09-12T11:11:43","date_gmt":"2018-09-12T11:11:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/?p=27166"},"modified":"2023-02-06T06:52:12","modified_gmt":"2023-02-06T06:52:12","slug":"polaric-effects-of-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/mental-health\/polaric-effects-of-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Mental Health &#038; Marriage: 20 Significant Effects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-27170 size-full\" title=\"Polaric Effects of Mental Health on Marriage\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Polaric-Effects-of-Mental-Health-on-Marriage.jpg\" alt=\"Polaric Effects of Mental Health on Marriage\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The effects of marriage on mental health can be profound, both for the better or for the worse, depending upon the state of your marriage.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The difference is so vast that it&rsquo;s easy to see why some love to be married and dream about the day that they will marry while others want to run for the hills at the very notion.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some of the effects of marriage on mental health.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10-effects-of-a-positive-and-healthy-marriage\"><\/span><b>10 effects of a positive and healthy marriage&nbsp;<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The advantages of being in a positive, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/love\/is-love-the-most-important-thing-for-a-happy-marriage\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">happy and healthy marriage<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will have huge impacts on mental health, particularly on the well-being of a person.&nbsp; Especially since you&rsquo;ll be benefitting from all of these wonderful marriage-related experiences.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fulfilled dreams<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A lifetime friend and confidant<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Somebody to help you face your battles<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emotional, mental, and physical security<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Higher esteem and confidence<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduced anxiety or depression<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Healthy sex life<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A stronger sense of self<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Healthier relationships with extended family<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improved physical health<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You don&rsquo;t need a psychologist to tell you that all of these benefits of a healthy marriage are going to bring profound benefits of marriage on mental health<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even sex is good for you.&nbsp; It has hundreds of psychological and health benefits of marriage!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-26836 size-full\" title=\"If the marriage is positive and healthy\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Save-Your-relationship-with-These-Insights.jpg\" alt=\"If the marriage is positive and healthy\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10-effects-of-a-bad-marriage-on-mental-health\"><\/span><b>10 effects of a bad marriage on mental health<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So this is one example of how the effects of marriage on mental health can have dire consequences and can bring people down. Either through creating mental illness such as anxiety, PTSD, depression, or even a psychotic or nervous breakdown.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And if your spouse is experiencing mental health problems also that are causing problems in the marriage, then the challenges can multiply. In some situations, the cycle can become dangerous either for the sanity of the originally healthy spouse or for their physical safety (depending upon the circumstances).&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mental health and marriage are deeply connected. If you have a spouse with a mental illness, it can also deeply affect your mental health.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you are faced with challenges such as the above and you have to fight them, while probably experiencing a lack of security, safety, confidence, low esteem, lack of practical resources, a lack of trust, and potentially no support system then there is only so much that somebody is going to take before they crack.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The effects of this marriage on mental health are not going to be good, which is why the negative effects of marriage on mental health can result in (there are just a few examples):<\/span><\/p>\n<ol><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anxiety<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depression<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OCD<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PTSD<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Addictions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Psychotic Disorders<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Disassociation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nervous Breakdown<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Physical Health Issues (manifested from psychological issues)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A negative relationship with extended family<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So if you find yourself in a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/separation\/how-to-get-out-of-a-bad-marriage\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bad marriage<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and you can relate to anything discussed here, maybe it&rsquo;s time to get some help and get out while you can.&nbsp; It will be much harder to do so if you lose control of your mental health completely.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What-if-the-marriage-is-unhappy-or-unhealthy\"><\/span><b>What if the marriage is unhappy or unhealthy?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But what happens when the tables are turned? Well, the effects of marriage on mental health are reversed, and if you are experiencing the flip side of the coin &ndash; in this case, you might expect;<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dashed dreams<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having to face life alone<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mistrust<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No support system<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low esteem<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The consequences of emotional manipulation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Insecure environment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lack of intimacy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Potential lack of money and resources<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being in danger<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let&rsquo;s face it! Nobody wants to face life alone, so even if you never get married, and live alone without having to deal with a break up you still face the challenges of having to face the ghosts of what never was.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/shadow-self.htm#:~:text=The%20term%20'the%20shadow'%20was,of%20ourselves%20we%20deem%20unacceptable.\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Carl Jung refers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to this problem as us having a shadow side.&nbsp; He claims we all have a shadow existence where we live with everything that is part of us, but that never was.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether that be experiences we wanted but never realized, such as a happy marriage, or children, or even repressed desires that, in some cases, we couldn&rsquo;t express because it&rsquo;s not socially acceptable.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<pre><b><i>Related Reading:<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/causes-of-unhappy-marriage\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15 Causes Of An Unhappy Marriage &amp; How to Solve it&nbsp;<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dashed-dreams-resulting-in-mental-illness\"><\/span><b>Dashed dreams resulting in mental illness<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The mental effects of dashed dreams are real and can result in anxiety, depression, and OCD as a way to be able to come to terms with or control this shadowy world that exists only in the hearts and minds of the individual.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, you don&rsquo;t need to be dealing with marriage or lack of it to have to face dashed dreams and a shadow world.&nbsp; We all have one, but a happy marriage is sure to be one distraction from our shadows that might just save us.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those who are not happily married have to face their shadowy world, which in some cases, can bring about a profound and damaging effect of marriage on their mental health.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Providing for yourself not just physically but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually is no mean feat. You&rsquo;ll need bones of steel to navigate this territory or to find the courage to face, work through and embrace these challenges.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some people, even if they are married, still have to face life alone, perhaps because of a distance between them, because of addictions or mental illness, or also because they are living in an emotionally, mentally, or physically unsafe marriage.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having to be alone when you are alone is one thing, but dealing with that prospect while having to deal with severe and sometimes serious safety problems in your marriage can bring the strongest of people to their knees.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not least because they will not feel secure in any way, their marriage is bad; if they live with their spouse which is highly likely, then their basic human needs are compromised such as the roof over their head and their future, and in some marriages their safety (if the marriage is dangerous).<\/span><\/p>\n<pre><b><i>Related Reading:<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/mental-health\/how-to-deal-with-mental-illness-in-spouse\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10 Ways on Dealing From Spouse With Mental Illness<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"More-questions-on-the-effects-of-mental-health-on-marriage\"><\/span><b>More questions on the effects of mental health on marriage<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check out more questions on the effects of mental health on marriage:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>How can mental disorders affect a marriage?<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mental disorders can significantly impact marriage and create strain on the relationship. Symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and mood swings can lead to communication breakdowns, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rtor.org\/2019\/06\/28\/mental-health-and-intimacy\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">decreased intimacy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and conflicts.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you wonder how mental health affects relationships, it is essential to know that the affected individual may struggle with fulfilling their responsibilities and maintaining healthy relationships, leading to feelings of guilt and frustration. The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nami.org\/Blogs\/NAMI-Blog\/November-2021\/Caring-for-Yourself-When-Your-Spouse-Has-a-Mental-Illness\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">caregiver may experience stress<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, burnout, and a sense of isolation.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is important for both partners to prioritize self-care and seek support from therapy and\/or support groups to address the challenges and work towards a healthy and fulfilling relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>Why is mental health important in marriage?<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mental health plays a crucial role in the success and stability of a marriage. Good mental health allows individuals to communicate effectively, handle conflicts, and maintain intimacy. It also helps in building trust and promoting a positive outlook in the relationship.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, poor mental health can lead to negative patterns of behavior and communication, causing stress and anxiety and potentially damaging the relationship.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By prioritizing and maintaining good mental health, couples can foster a strong and supportive relationship, leading to a happier and healthier life together. It is important for both partners to prioritize self-care and seek support when needed.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>How does mental health affect family life and relationships?<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mental health has a profound impact on family life and relationships. Poor mental health can lead to communication breakdowns, decreased intimacy, and conflicts within a family. It can also cause individuals to withdraw from social activities and relationships, leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, good mental health allows individuals to communicate effectively, handle conflicts, and maintain positive relationships with loved ones. It also promotes a positive outlook and helps in building trust, leading to stronger and more fulfilling relationships.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintaining good mental health is crucial for the overall well-being and stability of a family. It is important for families to prioritize and support each other&rsquo;s mental health.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/counseling\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marital counseling<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the right approach if the mental health issues in the relationship are prolonged and affect different aspects of life as well.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Takeaway\"><\/span><b>Takeaway<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marriage and mental illness are interrelated. Getting out should be a priority if you are experiencing physical, emotional, or psychological abuse or if you feel that you are in danger at the hands of your spouse in any way.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If this relates to you, seek help from a local charity that specializes in domestic abuse and get out.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":""},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The effects of marriage on mental health can be profound, both for the better or for the worse, depending upon the state of your marriage.&nbsp; The difference is so vast that it&rsquo;s easy to see why some love to be married and dream about the day that they will marry while others want to run for the hills at the very notion.&nbsp;&nbsp; Here are some of the effects of marriage on mental health.&nbsp;&nbsp; 10 effects of a positive and healthy marriage&nbsp; The advantages of being in a positive, happy and healthy marriage will have huge impacts on mental health, particularly <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1419,"featured_media":27170,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[93],"tags":[2721],"class_list":["post-27166","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mental-health","tag-understanding-psychological-disorders","has_thumb"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27166","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1419"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27166"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27166\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":82965,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27166\/revisions\/82965"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27170"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27166"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27166"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27166"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}