BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (WTVF) — With no clear end in sight to the COVID-19 pandemic, relationships are being put to the test.
"What we are dealing with now is kind of this combination of severity and duration," said Margaret Phillips.
Margaret Phillips is a licensed marriage and family therapist with more than 30 years of experience.
"Whatever has been there... if it wasn't addressed it is absolutely coming to the surface now," said Phillips.
Even the healthiest relationships are being challenged by the uncertainty that surrounds the virus and the requirement to stay at home.
"We're all going to run thin. We're all going to run out of patience," said Phillips.
Phillips is the author of The Marriage Ark. It was published in 2017, but is timely now. The book references the biblical story of Noah and analyzes how his family survived ambivalence and isolation.
"What did it take for them to make it? Because you could not let chaos reign in that," Phillips said.
Phillips has about thirty clients. For many, she is their lifeline. During this pandemic, some are reliant on her to get them through this time.
"The last thing they want to do is turn loose of that, like now when we are under even more stress," Phillips said.
For couples that are going through a rough patch or possibly considering a divorce, the quarantine could be sink or swim.
"They either choose to lay those things down, for the sake of maybe having children in the house, just go on neutral ground and push a pause button. For others, it's going to get much worse," she said.
The added time together could also save some relationships.
"I think there are going to be a few people second guessing after having to work together. They may find some new ways of looking at their relationship and find some positives in it," she said.
If a relationship is causing you serious mental strain, call the state's crisis line 855-CRISIS-1 (855-274-7471).
