Friday 10 October 2014

Characteristics of Functional and Dysfunctional Couples



Characteristics 

of Functional

 and Dysfunctional 

Couples

* Dysfunctional: 

   Being together and unhappy is safer than being alone.
* Functional: 
   Being together brings us joy and happiness.

* Dysfunctional: 
   It is safer to be with other people than it is to be alone and intimate with 
   our partner.
* Functional: 
   Being alone and intimate with our partner is as safe as being with other 
   people.

* Dysfunctional: 
   If I really let my partner know what I’ve done or what I’m feeling and thinking
    (who I am), (s)he will leave me.
* Functional: 
   When I really let my partner know what I’ve done or what I’m thinking (who I am),
   it increases our intimacy. It’s met with acceptance.

* Dysfunctional: 
   It is easier to hide (medicate) our feelings through addictive/compulsive behaviour than it is to express 
   them.
* Functional: 
   We no longer need to hide and medicate our feelings through our addictive/compulsive behaviour.  
   We can express our feelings.

* Dysfunctional: 
   Being enmeshed and totally dependent with each other is perceived
   as being in love.
* Functional: 
   Being interdependent adds strength to the relationship.

* Dysfunctional: 
   We find it difficult to ask for what we need, both individually and 
   as a couple.
* Functional: 
   We are learning to ask for what we need, both individually and a 
   couple.
* Dysfunctional: 
   Being sexual is equal to being intimate.
* Functional: 
   Being sexual enhances our relationship (increases our intimacy).

* Dysfunctional: 
   We either avoid our problems or feel we are individually responsible for solving the 
   problems we have as a couple.
* Functional: 
   We are learning to face our problems and not to feel individually responsible for solving
   the problems we have as a couple.

* Dysfunctional: 
   We believe that we must agree on everything.
* Functional: 
   We believe we don’t have to agree on everything.

* Dysfunctional: 
   We believe that we must enjoy the same things and have the same interests.
* Functional: 
   We believe we can have different interests and enjoy different things and enjoy being 
   together.

* Dysfunctional: 
   We believe that to be a good couple we must be socially acceptable.
* Functional: 
   We don’t have to be socially acceptable.

* Dysfunctional: 
   We have forgotten how to play together.
* Functional: 
   We can play and have fun together.

* Dysfunctional: 
   It is safer to get upset about little issues than to express our true feelings about larger 
   ones.
* Functional: 
   We are learning to express our true feelings about larger issues, and we are learning to 
   resolve conflict.

* Dysfunctional: 
   It is easier to blame our partners than it is to accept our own responsibility.
* Functional: 
   We are learning to accept our individual responsibility.

* Dysfunctional: 
   We deal with conflict by getting totally out of control or by not arguing at all.
* Functional: 
   We are learning to deal with conflict and to fight fairly.

* Dysfunctional: 
   We experience ourselves as inadequate parents.
* Functional: 
   We accept our limitations as parents.

* Dysfunctional: 
   We are ashamed of ourselves as a couple.
* Functional: 
   We are proud of ourselves as a couple.

* Dysfunctional: 
   We repeat patterns of dysfunction from our families-of-origin.
* Functional: 
   We are recognising and breaking the patterns of dysfunction from our families-of-origin. 

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If you are struggling with addictive tendencies and are ready to create a functional relationship call us immediately at Coaching With Substance


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