2020 was an incredibly rough year for almost everyone. For me, it seemed like there was a new bad thing happening in my life at least once a month (or more). One of the hardest things I’ve been through in 2020 was experiencing a rough patch with my boyfriend earlier this year. It was extremely difficult, but it shaped us into the strong couple that we are today.
I’m thankful for being able to overcome a rough patch in my relationship. During the months of quarantine (March to August 2020), the long distance put tension and a lack of connection between my boyfriend and I. Being apart from each other for 6 months made our relationship become quite toxic. We argued very frequently, felt unhappy and insecure, and overall suffered from lack of communication on both ends. I developed separation anxiety, and I admit, it made me become very toxic. I was constantly worried and anxious about his whereabouts when we weren’t on the phone. My separation anxiety became so overwhelming that it made me overthink terribly, to the point where I would think he died every time he didn’t answer my calls or texts. Of course, the issue was on both sides, and both of us acted toxic towards each other. Nonetheless, I’m grateful we went through this rough patch. There were a number of times where we felt the relationship was over, but we persisted. We stuck through it, and I’m so glad we made the decision to keep going. I realized every long-term relationship has its rough patches, but the strongest relationships are the ones who choose to keep going despite how hard a battle it is at the moment. Now, we are stronger than ever, and have learned so much about ourselves and each other from this period. Our relationship is the healthiest it’s ever been, and we have learned how to better communicate our concerns and feelings in a non-toxic way. We spent a lot more time with each other since then and connected so much with each other as lovers, something you cannot fully achieve over FaceTime. When we do argue, we handle the problem maturely as adults, instead of resorting to pettiness. Overall, we have learned and grown so much as couple, and that is why I am grateful for experiencing a toxic phase in my relationship over quarantine.