Many co-parents find themselves living in a constant state of emotional vigilance, waiting for the next difficult message, mentally preparing for conflict before it’s even happened, and replaying conversations. Existing in this hyper state of “fear” keeps your nervous system on high alert, always on edge as you anticipate the moment your phone could light up with a text or an incoming call. Over time, this chronic activation can lead to an experience known as co-parenting burnout.

When you and your partner are around each other constantly, that closeness can backfire. Even contented couples can quietly drift into a state of togetherness that suffocates their relationship. I have seen it many times with couples in the clinic. Their happy little bubble starts to feel boring. That creeping dissatisfaction is often a surprise because their marriage is neither toxic nor broken. What they have, paradoxically, is too much of a good thing.

There’s a persistent difficulty in simply switching off, even when there’s time to rest and relax. The assumption is usually the same: something is wrong. Either we are doing too much, not doing enough, or not managing ourselves well enough. We’re just too stressed out. Obviously.

But what if stress is not the problem?

What if it is the signal?

Keeping up with and chasing the latest wellness trend is enough to make anyone crazy. But science is now pointing in a quieter direction: small changes, repeated over time, may have an outsized impact on how long and how well we live.

Do you find yourself pushing through or ignoring pain? Reaching for something to pep you up instead of giving yourself the rest you truly need? Or maybe you’re at a breaking point where you can’t ignore it anymore? If so, your body is giving you a very strong message, and it’s time to listen up.

Each small act of self-honouring, the boundary held, the unspoken question, the need expressed, sends a new message to the nervous system until safety is slowly re-established from the inside out. Self-trust isn’t built in a single breakthrough moment, but rather it accumulates in the hundred small choices to stay true to yourself.

If stillness has ever made you feel worse instead of better, you’re not alone. For many people, relaxation doesn’t feel like relief — it feels like a threat. Understanding why is the first step to actually finding your way back to a true feeling of rest.

Recognising the signs of emotional unavailability can bring clarity, as these partners often unconsciously sabotage relationships due to feelings of discomfort or fear of closeness and abandonment.

While health can significantly affect libido and what’s possible, a lot of older adults maintain satisfying sex lives by adapting to changes and challenges. Many even discover that in later years their sex life is more fulfilling than it ever was. Here’s how.

This generation is navigating a world that looks very different from the one their parents stepped into. They have grown up under constant comparison on social media, sky-high expectations for success, economic instability, unclear career paths, and the fear that one wrong move could derail everything.

The therapist Jean-Claude Chalmet says long-term couples often inadvertently ruin their love life. Here's where you're going wrong.

If you’re worried that the stress and responsibilities of life have started to unravel your relationship to the point where you no longer feel like the partnership is a safe space and divorce is the only option—that’s your body and your nervous system telling you something very important.

You don’t need to overhaul your entire life, it’s more about making small, intentional shifts to create lasting habits and rituals for a longer, happier life.

Not every encounter has to make the chandelier shake. Even humdrum, socks-on sex leaves a warm glow. And when you learn to embrace your physical bond, and all that it can give, your relationship will deepen and thrive along with your love life.

At The Place Retreats, mindfulness is a daily part of our lives and vital to everything we do. Our Balinese haven is a supportive, luxurious sanctuary where clients can focus on their mental well-being as they learn to practice mindfulness and meditation. Free from the pressures, distractions, and stress of everyday life, guests at The Place Retreats rediscover themselves through our evidence-based therapies and personalised care.

The strongest couples respond with repair, trust and a willingness to work through the issues. When couples acknowledge that all relationships require effort to maintain the connection, they can recognise distance early—before the gap becomes insurmountable—respond with intention rather than reactivity, and work towards the necessary intimacy to reconnect.

In order to fall asleep, the body needs to feel safe enough to let down its guard. However, when anxiety is present, the nervous system remains on high alert even when the body is tired and ready to rest. The mind continues scanning, planning, ruminating, and worrying.

Couples fight over money more than sex. The therapist Jean-Claude Chalmet on how to avoid financial incompatibility — and four writers on how they split the bills.

But before we look at how much is “too much”, couples need to first identify the reasons why they drink and the function of alcohol in their relationship. It can be complicated but if we want our habits and happiness to improve, that’s where it starts.

January 1 has far more symbolic weight than practical meaning. It’s a date we’ve collectively agreed represents a “fresh start,” but real change doesn’t work on a schedule like that. More often, it shows up once the noise settles and real life resumes.

If you’re only just starting to notice what isn’t working in your life, that doesn’t mean you’re too late. It usually means you’re finally paying attention and you’re ready to start making some changes.