Improving Your Relationship For Dummies

This is the guide to being happy with your partner. Whether you want to work through tiresome niggles, iron out potential issues before taking the next step, or simply fortify your partnership against the daily ups and downs, this relationship manual provides all the expert advice and support you need. Packed with key information on managing change, successful cohabitation, overcoming jealousy, and igniting passion, and including worksheets designed to get you and your partner thinking and working together, this is your passport to a loving, communicative relationship that's set to last.

This is the guide to being happy with your partner. Whether you want to work through tiresome niggles, iron out potential issues before taking the next step, or simply fortify your partnership against the daily ups and downs, this relationship manual provides all the expert advice and support you need. Packed with key information on managing change, successful cohabitation, overcoming jealousy, and igniting passion, and including worksheets designed to get you and your partner thinking and working together, this is your passport to a loving, communicative relationship that's set to last.

Introduction 1Part I: Preparing for Relationship Change 7Chapter 1: Understanding the Economics of Love 9Chapter 2: Doing a Relationship Inventory 23Chapter 3: Developing the Ground Rules for a Successful Relationship 43Part II: Boosting Your Relationship 63Chapter 4: Prioritising Your Relationship 65Chapter 5: Doing Oodles of Romantic Stuff 83Chapter 6: Understanding the Essentials of Sex 99Chapter 7: Turning Up the Sexual Thermostat 125Part III: Improving Communication and Resolving Conflict 141Chapter 8: Establishing the Rules of Effective Communication 143Chapter 9: Settling Disagreements 161Chapter 10: Breaking the Argument Cycle177Part IV: Working Through Relationship Issues 191Chapter 11: Overcoming Day-to-Day Grumbles 193Chapter 12: Handling the Bigger Diffi culties 215Chapter 13: Managing Major Life Changes 237Chapter 14: Surviving an Affair 263Chapter 15: Recognising That It's Over 289Part V: The Part of Tens 305Chapter 16: Ten Ways to Ignite Passion 307Chapter 17: Ten Tips for Talking Together 313Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Avoid a Row 319Chapter 19: Ten Great Expectations for Couples 325Appendix: Relationship Resources 331Index 335