Dealing with relationship fights: 12 things to never do after a fight

Ignoring what started a relationship fight or pretending it never happened isn’t a wise idea. “Sweeping it under the rug assumes your partner is satisfied with the outcome. But making a clear effort to reconnect is the key to a successful outcome. Sharing what you have learned after a fight can help repair the damage,” says marriage consultant and coach, Lesli W. Doares. “And, make no mistake, there is always damage.” If you don’t let your partner know that what you fought about bothers you, your resentment could bubble up in the future and you could just eventually explode. “Something triggered the fight that must be addressed,” says dating and empowerment coach, Laurel House. Remember to pick your battles when assessing if something really warrants further discussion or decide if you can let it slide. “The important things you ignore are the things that manifest into larger issues,” says relationship expert and author of He’s Just Not Your Type (And That’s a Good Thing), Andrea Syrtash.

It’s normal to want validation for how you feel from friends, family, and anyone who will listen. But your fight isn’t for public consumption. “This can be really damaging to the trust your partner has for you,” says psychotherapist, Marni Feuerman.  And once you put something out in the public forum, you can’t take it back. And people will likely judge your relationship – not for the better. “Unlike you, all they have are the ‘facts’ that you presented, making it harder for them to forgive and forget,” says House. Instead, keep what you fight about to yourself. Do you really need to talk it out? House suggests speaking with a trusted confidant who can provide balanced and honest advice.

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The longer the argument festers, the angrier you’ll feel. “Unresolved anger and hurt feelings can grow if they’re not worked out in a timely manner,” says psychologist and relationship expert, Antonia Hall. And the harder it will be to overcome the dispute. “By letting time slip by, you’re going to lengthen the disagreement and continue to suffer from the stress associated with it,“ says health and relationships writer, Stacey Laura Lloyd. “In addition, with the passage of time, it’s more difficult to recall and agree upon the exact factors that caused the conflict in the first place, making it even tougher to resolve.” Once you’ve had some time to cool off, revisit the issue and work it out. For men, this timeout is especially beneficial. “When a man gets a break, he turns his brain off to the situation for a while,” says dating coach, Mike Goldstein. “He can then come back to the situation in a more open and loving state of mind to more rationally access what is happening and how to find a solution with his partner.”

Don’t hold onto the anger and not forgive your partner. If they are offering a genuine, sincere and heartfelt apology, accept it. “Otherwise, you’ll keep the negative sentiments around much longer than necessary,” says Feuerman. “Forgiveness is a good practice in a long-term relationship.” Realise that not everyone is perfect. And if you’re still mad or upset, stubbornly not accepting his apology will only worsen the situation. “By not accepting his apology, you’re continuing to punish him and communicating that no matter what he does or says, it’s not good enough,” says House. And it could be the signs of a deeper issue. “Relationships aren’t about having a winner and a loser. You’re on the same side,” says Syrtash. “If you can’t accept his apology, figure out if you need to seek counselling or do something else that will help you restore trust and connection.” It’s also important to take accountability for yourself, in both couple fights and friendships fights.

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Let it go. “If couples consistently rehash every fight they ever had, there will be never-ending feuding and zero time for love and fun,” says Goldstein. Plus, if the argument has really been resolved, then why bring it up again, says Doares. “Holding something over your partner’s head is not loving behaviour and will not result in a healthy, successful relationship,” she says. If something was said that bothers you, don’t keep getting in jabs, even after you’ve allegedly reached a resolution. You’ll only end up talking in circles and not resolving anything. “By bringing up old conflicts, all you’re really doing is restarting the battle while also showing your partner that prior resolutions and agreements mean nothing,” says Lloyd. “In fact, when you bring up an old conflict, you’re well on your way to starting a new one.”

Stress, feeling under the weather, commuter traffic. You can blame an argument on just about anything. But don’t pass the blame on why you fought. “An apology is not an apology when you say, ‘I’m sorry but…’” says Goldstein. If you’re upset about something, your partner needs to know that – and not think it’s because you had a bad day at the office. “Excuses give you a chance to seem like you’re weaselling out of any responsibility,” says marriage counsellor, Jim Walkup. Be honest about why you’re fighting. “Directly discussing the problem is more likely to resolve it than making up flimsy excuses for why it happened,” says Feuerman.

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“Whether you meant it or not, you said it, you did it and you can’t take it back,” says House. “You can’t make it go away, so saying that you didn’t mean it is not only pointless, but can be infuriating and shows that you fight dirty and mean, which aren’t healthy or productive ways to ‘fight.’” If you say that you didn’t mean it, you won’t work to a resolution for the future. And that’s the goal of a fight in the first place. “Start by understanding that your words may have hurt your significant other,” says Walkup. “Acknowledge that you hurled the grenades in anger and defensiveness.” This is amplified if your disagreement was made public, say, on social media.

It’s great that you’re done fighting. But if shifting gears to doing the deed is the last thing on your mind, it’s fine to say you’re not in the mood. “Sex is about love, intimacy and caring, about warmth and connection,” says love and marriage experts, Charles Schmitz and Elizabeth Schmitz. “The time and your emotions have to be right for sex to be enjoyable and intimate.” Your partner just may want a roll in the hay to feel close to you again and reconnect. “Makeup sex can be healing, but only if you both are feeling into it,” says Walkup. Explain why you’re not up for nookie to avoid hurting their feelings. “If you’re having sex because you think you ‘should,’ you’re actually making the situation worse, adding on a layer of resentment and possibly even making yourself feel used,” says House. Perhaps a hug is all you’re ready for initially, says Hall. “Having sex for any reason when you don’t want to is a bad idea,” says Doares. “You’ll equate what is supposed to be a form of intimacy with intimidation or manipulation.”

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Did your partner forget to get nappies at the supermarket though you asked them to do so as they walked out the door at 8am? Instead of replaying the incident in your head, spend your energy on finding a solution for the problem. “Identifying the issues that are underlying can bring relief but only if done with a sense of ‘let’s understand and grow here,’” says Walkup. If your partner seems to be forgetful lately, sit down with them on a different occasion and bring up the issue, says sexuality educator and relationship expert, Lisa Hochberger. In this case you might say, “I notice that when I ask you to pick things up after work, you forget to do it,” says Hochberger. “What can I do to remind you of errands we need done for the house so you don’t forget?” Try and support your partner, not be judgmental, she adds.

It’s fine if you need some space after a fight. “Ignoring your partner will only amplify the hurt and anger,” says Hall. Just don’t give them the cold shoulder without telling them. They may feel like they’re being punished if you ignore them, brush them off or shut them out. “Giving someone the silent treatment is a form of emotional abuse. It’s disrespectful, demeaning and manipulative,” says Doares. “Yes, you can take some time to yourself to calm down and engage in self-care but you can be civil to your partner at the same time.” Explain that you need a few hours to cool off and that you do want to reconnect. Feuerman says, “It’s ok to say, ‘I need some time to calm down so we can discuss this rationally.’” Otherwise, next time, your partner may bottle up how they feel.

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