PART V - THE MAJOR ISSUES

Health

Living a healthy lifestyle is a choice.  Doing so is unselfish and communicates to your spouse that you love them and want to be around and healthy for them. 

Healthy living includes eating right, not smoking, exercising regularly, not drinking or drinking in moderation, not drinking and driving, not doing drugs, not engaging in high-risk hobbies, etc. Also, it is a good idea to get regular checkups and see a doctor for unusual symptoms.

Sometimes, even when you are both doing everything right, you or your spouse gets sick or injured. These situations can put incredible stress on a marriage.

If you are the sick or injured one, do not take your frustration out on your spouse, and be considerate of their situation. It is tough being ill, but being a caretaker can be just as hard.  Normally, your spouse will have responsibility for their normal duties, the things you can no longer do, and your care.

If you are the caretaker, show compassion and do your best, but don’t jeopardize your own mental or physical health. If you need help, be aggressive in pursuing it (family, friends, your insurance company, local community support groups, etc.).  Categorize and prioritize what must be done and what can wait.

As always, communication between spouses is critical and can help strengthen your relationship in a time when it could be damaged.