The novel coronavirus, which is sweeping across the globe and U.S., has us all maintaining social distance, or staying at least six feet away from others. The only exception to this rule is if you live with someone, such as close family, a friend, or a partner who has also maintained social distance from others. It’s certainly a confusing and anxiety-ridden time for many, but there’s quite a lot we can take away from this social experiment, if you will, while we’re maintaining our distance. This is especially true for romantic couples, who seem to be bonding over this shared experience, leaning on each other for support and appreciating the fact that they don’t have to do this whole isolation thing on their own.
“Being in a small space for an extended period of time can escalate already existing problems, but it can also allow couples to connect and strengthen their relationship,” explains Rachel Needle, Psy.D., licensed psychologist in West Palm Beach, Florida and the co-director of Modern Sex Therapy Institutes. “How we handle stressful situations both individually and as a couple can be very telling.”