When opposites attract: an introvert’s guide to dating an extrovert
How do you meet your introvert needs when your partner is an extroverted social butterfly? Coach Lucy Griffiths shares her advice…
Love
Why men shut down their emotions — and how their relationships pay the price
Emotional suppression in men often shows up as stress, irritability and distance — reshaping connection long before anyone even realises When emotions aren’t recognised, they don’t disappear. They leak. Unprocessed stress and emotional overload quietly spill into relationships, shaping their tone, closeness and communication — and not for the better. You might think you’re being […]
‘I keep repeating the same mistakes!’ What you need vs what you want, and why it matters
Chemistry might spark attraction, but lasting relationships are built on compatibility. Understanding the difference can change who you choose — and why At the start of almost every relationship, desire takes the lead. We’re drawn to the spark, the excitement, that funny feeling you get in the pit of your stomach (or elsewhere!), the unmistakeable […]
I thought fighting was the problem – then a relationship coach explained it was what happens next that really matters
Closeness isn’t defined by avoiding falling out — but by what happens when we stop fighting and start repairing I remember when I first met my husband. Back then, our reactions when we had a fight were wildly different. I was all fireworks and slammed doors, raised voices and tears. He wanted to calm everything […]
‘I felt love draining quietly away’: why emotional safety is the missing link between desire and lasting intimacy
A psychotherapist explains how the nervous system shapes trust and connection – and why emotional safety is key to maintaining intimacy One of my friends recently shocked our WhatsApp group with the news that she was getting a divorce. They’d been married 20 years, two lovely kids, nice house. It all looked perfect in the […]
Learning this saved my relationship — but most couples never try it
Curiosity is one of the strongest predictors of emotional connection — yet in many long-term relationships it’s often the first thing to disappear Here, relationship expert Karen Thom explores why often it’s what you don’t say that quietly dismantles emotional intimacy. All too often, curiosity quietly disappears from long-term relationships — and missed moments, unasked […]
‘I can’t tell her how I feel’: It’s not your fault if you struggle to express emotions
Often we aren’t emotionally disconnected because we lack depth. We feel unseen because no one ever taught us how to put our inner world into words. If you struggle to express emotions you’re not alone — and you’re not emotionally deficient. As men, frequently we grow up learning that our value lies in what we […]
‘It was just a joke, don’t you have a sense of humour?’ How to spot relationship red flags
Subtle gaslighting, ‘jokes’ that hurt, constantly walking on eggshells: Relationship red flags often appear quietly — until your confidence is gone for good An old boyfriend of mine had one red flag phrase he repeated constantly: ‘I’m only kidding — it was just a joke! Don’t you have a sense of humour?’ He usually said […]
The Beckham siblings have had a public falling out – here’s why siblings fall out and how to heal the rifts
After a dramatic fall out with her sister, Sophia Smith went in search of a solution to understand and overcome sibling estrangement…
How to have a healthy summer fling
Ellen Tout was not looking for a relationship. Then, one warm summer’s evening, as eyes met across a crowded room, she found a different kind of magic
