Every successful relationship requires commitment and work from both partners. However, sometimes the feelings fade, and spouses, instead of seeking common ground, drift further apart. Often, the breakdown of a family is preceded by specific signals. In an interview with "Wysokie Obcasy" psychotherapist Zofia Milska-Wrzosińska highlighted the greatest threats to marriage. According to her, it's not infidelity that signifies a definitive end.
Contempt Breaks Up Marriages
Respect for one's partner is the foundation of a successful relationship. When partners appreciate each other's efforts, care for one another, and notice small successes, the bond becomes stronger. According to Zofia Milska-Wrzosińska, the problem arises when contempt and displays of superiority toward the partner appear in the marriage.
I think the most dangerous is contempt. It's not always expressed directly, but you can sense it when a couple affected by it comes to me. A bored expression when the other tries to say something. A throwaway comment: 'You've been talking for three minutes already; stop, because you'll bore the lady and me, as always'
- she said. She added that such behaviors can cause the partner to lose self-esteem and feel emotional pain.
Different Types of Infidelity
The expert also touched on the topic of infidelity. She emphasized that infidelity is not always directed against a loved one. It doesn't have to be an attack on them, revenge, or rejection. She observed that some acts of infidelity may hurt less than others.
For example, for many people, a one-time sexual encounter during the infamous company retreat is different from a multi-year, parallel life where the lover is entrusted with the wife's most intimate matters—usually casting her in a negative light—spending money from family resources, neglecting various obligations, including towards children. In the latter case, we are dealing with a much worse situation. Indeed, there are infidelities that irreversibly destroy a relationship
- she explained.
