One of the topics we hit today had to do with an article we found in "Prevention" (1/20/09) We had a request to post the info - so here ya go!
If you and your partner tend to get on each other's nerves more often than other couples do, don't rush to a counselor. Feeling irritated with one another is almost always a sign that you're healthfully engaged with each other, not drifting apart, according to a University of Michigan study. It means you've become comfortable expressing yourself over time, say researchers. Relationships that are close and positive can also be very irritating. That said, if your spouse resorts to name-calling or frequent yelling, such behavior may be a sign of a problem worth addressing.
