"My Marriage Sucks": Eight Resources For Marriage Help

Updated October 18, 2024by Regain Editorial Team
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When things are going well, marriage can be a fulfilling life journey for both you and the person you love. However, when challenges—ranging from arguments to infidelity, illness, or other unexpected life events—arise, these can cause stress and confusion for married couples. You may find yourself wondering about the future of your marriage, or struggling to figure out how to move forward.

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Do you have concerns about your marriage?

Whether you’re grappling with an affair, managing a life change, or finding yourself in conflict with your spouse, a range of resources are available that can help you make sense of your situation and find a path to healing. We will explore several of them in this article. 

Resources for navigating marriage challenges

Even when a marriage is going well, it can be natural to experience bumps in the road. When you have larger concerns about your relationship, however, having the resources to navigate challenges can be even more important for figuring out your next steps. If you find yourself in unsure how to address your marriage concerns, the following resources are all worth considering:

Support groups

Sometimes, it can be helpful to know that you’re not the only one going through a difficult time in your marraige. The same goes for relationship challenges, which is why some married couples find support groups to be a valuable resource. In a group setting, married couples can discuss their emotions, experiences, and challenges while listening and providing support to one another. There are a variety of types of support groups, focusing on topics ranging from sex and intimacy challenges to infidelity in marriage, communication problems, and substance abuse issues. If you feel you would benefit from communicating your marriage experiences with others, you can try looking for a support group in your local community.

Books and articles

Many books have been published outlining how to respond to marriage challenges, and some are even available for free. Manuals exist for navigating infidelity, identifying your love languages, improving communication, supporting your spouse’s career, and managing many other relationship issues. Additionally, online resources, such as advice columns and articles, can provide useful insight into your situation, as well as options for addressing it. Keep in mind that not all of these resources are created by licensed relationship counselors, so it's important to vet the credentials of the writers before putting their suggestions into practice. 

Marriage classes

Marriage education can take many forms, ranging from weekly classes to intensive retreats. Regardless, these classes typically all focus on addressing issues within a marriage, strengthening the bond between spouses, and teaching couples how to manage challenges from intimacy issues to communication problems. Some marriage classes take place in small settings, while others involve larger groups. Often, resources such as take-home exercises, workbooks, and other “homework assignments” are provided to help couples put what they’ve learned into practice outside class sessions. Similarly to books and articles, keep in mind that it's important to assess the credentials of the instructor prior to taking a marriage class. 

Hotlines

For spouses who are in crisis, or in need of immediate assistance, there are various hotlines that may be helpful. If you have concerns about abusive behavior in your marriage, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). The Crisis Text Line can be reached by texting HOME to 741741, while the SAMHSA National Helpline for substance use concerns can be reached at 800-662-4357. Depending on your place of residence, other helplines and community resources may also be available.

Therapy

Marriage challenges can feel insurmountable at times, which is why many couples opt to enlist a relationship counselor to help guide them through rough patches. Marriage counseling can provide a safe and neutral source of support, as well as a space for spouses to express what’s bothering them and air their emotions. A licensed relationship therapist can help identify the sources of conflict in a marriage, as well as develop a personalized treatment plan to help couples improve their communication, strengthen intimacy, and move forward with love and respect. Couples therapy may draw from a variety of treatment modalities, including the Gottman method, solution-focused therapy, and Imago Relationship Therapy, among others. 

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Do you have concerns about your marriage?

That said, the costs of traditional marriage counseling (sometimes as high as $200 per session) can often make it inaccessible. For this reason, an increasing number of couples are turning to online therapy through a platform like Regain. With prices starting at $65 per week, many couples may find online therapy more accessible than face-to-face counseling. Additionally, for those experiencing marriage challenges, the ability to message a counselor at any time may also be beneficial when questions arise outside scheduled therapy hours.

Studies have shown that online couples therapy can be just as effective as face-to-face counseling. One study, published in 2022, found that couples who received online relationship therapy saw similar decreases in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress to those who received face-to-face counseling—as well as similar improvements in relationship satisfaction. Meanwhile, a 2020 study found that online relationship therapy provided couples an increased sense of connection to their therapist

Counselor reviews

"My wife and I decided to give online couples counseling a go after finding traditional methods weren't all that suited to our busy working and parenting lifestyle. Our counselor Donna Kemp has been amazing! We both feel she's listened to us and given us the confidence to step out of our comfort zone to deal with problems that are easy to avoid. She is encouraging without being pushy. We've both responded very well to her and her methods and look forward to continuing with Donna. Highly recommend!"

"Sessions with Natalie are very insightful and give practical advice on implementing new habits and changes. Be prepared to engage and be challenged to think differently. I know that my partner and I can already see improvements in our relationship and feel more positive about working through our issues together."

Takeaway

Marriage challenges can be frightening, whether you’re newly married or have been with your spouse for a long time. However, a range of resources are available to help you navigate difficulties in your relationship. These include support groups; domestic violence, substance abuse, and crisis hotlines; books and online articles; and marriage classes and retreats. Additionally, for those who would benefit from more in-depth support, marriage counseling may be an appealing option. Counseling, whether in person or online, can greatly improve relationship satisfaction and help spouses address issues in a constructive and healthy way. 

If you are interested in exploring couples therapy, you can connect with a licensed relationship counselor through Regain to get started on your counseling journey. 

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