Mostly, a relationship starts off with all the pleasurable brain chemicals being activated and we experience a honeymoon period of falling in love.

After a period of time, however, our ‘stuff’ can come up and this can negatively impact our primary relationship.

This is usually related to our family of origin and the attachment style that was imprinted on us in the first few years of our lives.

This can manifest in many different ways - whether it be affairs, dishonesty, communication blocks, one or both partners working too hard, diminished or non-existent sexual connection and most harming of all, contempt.

Luckily there are many tools available to couples to move their relationship into a more loving, sustainable partnership regardless of what may have come before.

This often requires the help of a professional but realising that connection with the person we have chosen to be with is possible once again can start us on a remarkable journey of intimacy, freedom and mutual autonomy.

Sometimes it is not possible to reconcile and there are different ways of separating - it is possible for it to be an experience that carries you forward to the next part of your life rather than leaving you resentful or confused.