Why conflict CAN BE GOOD FOR YOU

Do you do everything possible to avoid confrontation? It could be harming your health and your relationships, discovers Tanya Pearey

We’ve all been there. Tempers are flared and the mother of all arguments is about to kick off. But what do you do? Enter a slanging match that ends with nothing resolved? Or are you a peace-maker at any cost? Perhaps conflict makes you panic, so you head for the hills at the first whiff of it. Don’t! It’s not healthy for you or the relationship – whether it’s with your partner, teenage kids, in-laws or colleagues.

‘Conflict is going to happen,’ says relationships expert Jonathan Taylor-Cummings. ‘Deal with it well and you can actually strengthen a relationship, and both come out of it stronger. Handle it badly and things can spiral out of control.’

Learning how to deal with discord in a positive way is a valuable skill to develop. Research shows it’s not only good for building stronger connections, it also improves understanding of each other and increases intimacy.

Rules of engagement