And though keeping the spark alive has been challenging, 67 percent of respondents agreed the pandemic has brought them closer to their partner.

The survey of 2,000 Americans in a relationship revealed 42 percent of couples have planned at-home “date nights,” and 4 in 10 have even started a new exercise routine together.

Thirty-eight percent, moreover, said they have tried to keep the spark alive by planning a trip, with respondents planning an average of three trips with their partner during quarantine.

Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of the Aruba Tourism Authority, the study probed the state of travel and romance in the midst of the pandemic.

The average couple surveyed hasn’t taken a trip together for seven months — and couples with children haven’t been away without them in 11 months.

Sixty-one percent said travel restrictions due to COVID-19, such as regions of the EU closing borders, have made them feel even more “trapped at home” during this time.

While nearly six in 10 said they had to cancel a previously planned trip due to COVID-19.

About three-quarters of respondents said they and their partner are eager to take a trip as soon as it’s safe to do so.

Approximately three in 10 respondents said they think about taking a trip with their partner multiple times per week and four in 10 said they think about it a few times per month.

And six in 10 said their relationship with their partner suffers when they don’t have the opportunity to get out and explore new places, or have new experiences together.

“This year, I have seen a dramatic increase in couples seeking therapy to work through feelings brought on by the pandemic and how this has changed their relationship. For the most part, partners are either stronger than ever or on the verge of breaking up,” said Dr. Holly Richmond, a relationship expert and licensed psychologist.

“A common theme for couples is the desire to get away and venture out, particularly to new locations. Even the process of planning a trip can be uplifting, giving couples something to look forward to and hope that their relationship can feel more exciting and passionately connected.”

More than half of respondents said their next trip with their partner will need to last seven days or longer in order to fully reconnect with them.

One in four said they’re most interested in taking a relaxing vacation and nearly one in five said a beach vacation is in order.

“We have also noticed a rising trend of travelers extending their stays, to 18 days or more, to truly relax and reconnect with their partners in a romantic beach destination,” said Ronella Tijn Asjoe-Croes, CEO of Aruba Tourism Authority.

Eighty percent of respondents agreed they always return from a couples’ trip feeling relaxed and connected.

And 70 percent said they feel safer traveling to countries that follow World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, such as implementing temperature checks, on-site medical professionals, social distance markers and mandatory PPE training for all staff.

“Aruba is one of the few places where Americans can travel that has rigorous safety measures in place and beautiful weather year-round, making it an ideal destination for all couples,” said Tijn Asjoe-Croes. “Whether it’s spa and wellness activities or seeking adventure via hiking like in our stunning Arikok National Park, there is something for every couple to do and learn and reconnect together.”

We all know that honesty is generally the best policy when it comes to long-term partnerships, but there are certain cases where brutal forthrightness can cause more harm than good. Herewith, you’ll discover all of the phrases and sayings your wife absolutely never wants to hear. So read on, and think carefully before you speak. And if your marriage is going wonderfully and you’re looking to spice things up in the bedroom, don’t miss these amazing secrets. 

1| “You remind me of my mother.”

This might sound like a compliment in your head, but chances are that’s not how she’ll hear it. “It doesn’t matter if she gets along great with her mother in law, comparisons to any family member can completely kill the mood,” says Kimberly Hershenson, LMSW, a therapist based in NYC. Also, never say she reminds you of her own mother, for similar reasons. This is definitely one of the 40 Worst Mistakes Married People Make.

2| “Get over it.”

“If a woman is expressing her concerns or needs in the relationship and they’re dismissed, it makes her feel voiceless and powerless,” explains Dr. Wyatt Fisher, a licensed psychologist and founder of a couples retreat. No matter how unreasonable you think she’s being, find a kinder way to acknowledge her emotions. And for ways to really heat up your marriage, consider embracing your wilder side.  

3| “Don’t take this personally.”

Similarly, it’s virtually impossible not to take your spouse’s words and actions personally. “We have a right to feel what we feel, and to work through those emotions with our partners,” notes Jodi J. De Luca, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist. “To be denied this right is to invalidate a very intimate part of who we are, and often results in psychologically unsafe relationships.” You can try regaining your significant other’s affection by using any one of the 50 Relationship Quotes to Reignite Your Love.

4| “You’re just better with the kids than I am.”

This is basically just a cop-out, even if you feel that it’s true on some level. “Women need help, especially from their significant others,” points out Vikki Ziegler, celebrity divorce attorney, relationship expert, and author of The Pre-Marital Planner. “They want their spouses to step up and help with the kids, not solely rely on them to do everything.”  Get more connected with your wife by taking part in some of the Best Bonding Activities for Married Couples.

5| “I want a divorce.”

No one wants to hear this from their spouse out of the blue, but it’s especially bad to say these words when you don’t really mean them just to incite a reaction. “So often, couples run into temporary moments of discomfort in their marriages, and instead having logical conversations about how to make the relationship better, they go straight for the ‘D’ word,” notes Allison Maxim, lead attorney at Maxim Law. “This is not only unhealthy rhetoric, but making these comments could leave your spouse feeling unsafe and insecure.”

6| “Relax!”

“In the midst of something tense, the word ‘relax’ from your spouse only ramps things up,” says Mitzi Bockmann, a certified life coach. Heed her advice and avoid this directive at all costs.

7| “Why don’t we have sex like we used to?”

Sex can be a pain point that’s absolutely worth addressing, but this phrasing is likely to put your wife on the defensive. “The first 18 months of a relationship are magical in almost every way, particularly sexually,” notes Dr. Holly Richmond, Somatic Psychologist and Head of Advisory Board for Ella Paradis. “This frenzied phase cannot be sustained, but is typically replaced by amazing levels of security and deep, attuned attachment. A lot changes happen in relationships over the years, including having children, career stress, financial strain, health problems or perhaps having to care for a parent. It is absolutely possible for long-term couples to have an exciting sex life, but it is unlikely it will ever be like it was at the beginning. Be open to moving passionately into the future, not trying to recreate the past.”

8| “You were so hot when we met.”

Again, this might seem like a nice thing to say, especially if you still find your wife attractive, but the emphasis on the past makes it easy to take offense. “Having kids, aging, exhaustion and just getting comfortable in a relationship may lead to her not dressing up as much, working out as much or even having time for makeup,” Hershenson says. “She’s still the same person, so this comment can be very hurtful.” Reconnecting can be hard. If you want some great help, check out the 30 Things Straight Couples Can Learn From Gay Couples.

9| “Is that what you’re wearing?”

“Clearly if she has it on, that’s what she was planning to wear,” says Tiya Cunningham-Sumter, a relationship coach. This dreaded phrase will make her second-guess her outfit choice and likely deliver a hit to her confidence.

10| “Stop nagging me.”

Often what’s interpreted as nagging is simply asking for help. “It can be particularly aggravating when the wife is reminding their husband of something they promised to do (several times) over the past weeks, months, or years or when the wife is expressing concern about their spouse’s health,” says Gina Gardiner, relationship expert and author.

Trust us, no matter how many times the question is asked, the right answer is always, “No, you look great!”

Having to repeat herself because you weren’t listening is likely to evoke annoyance. “For most women, emotional intimacy is a core need,” Dr. Fisher explains. “Therefore, if you respond like you’re not listening to her, it can be very hurtful and make her feel detached.”

“I find that when married couples find themselves in this situation, it is because neither of them can get on a financial plan that they both can agree on,” says Nolan Martin, a personal finance expert. “Typically, one of them is the spender and one of them is the saver. In many cases, they find difficulty in reaching common ground to prevent not having enough dollars to make it through the month.”

“This is code for maybe sometime, probably never,” Gardiner says. Heads up: Women know this.

“Most women don’t like to be asked about their orgasm prior to or during climax because it feels like pressure,” Richmond explains. “Most women would rather enjoy the entire sexual experience rather than being focused on having an orgasm—that’s an extra bonus but certainly not a prerequisite for having great sex.”

16| “I know I said I would do it but…”

It can be tempting to say you’re will do something you know you aren’t going to do just to end a conversation about it, but that’s not an effective strategy in the long-term. “Men want to keep their wives happy, so they agree to do what they are asked to do. Unfortunately their follow through isn’t always the best,” Bockmann says. “And not getting things done that they say they are going to get done is worse than saying they can’t do it.”

17| “I’m not attracted to you right now.”

“Our culture emphasizes looks above all else for women, and most women scrutinize themselves in the mirror for not feeling like they measure up,” Dr. Fisher says. “Therefore, commenting negatively about your wife’s looks can be extremely hurtful.”

The worst thing you can say to your wife when she’s not calm? This. “Men often find emotional outbursts difficult to deal with as they don’t have the resources to deal with them,” Gardiner says. “Men generally want to fix things, and when they can’t, they feel they have failed their partner. They become impatient, so instead of giving their partner the hug and support they need they are brusque, leaving their wives feeling they don’t care.” Try saying something simple and supportive instead.

This is a particularly touchy topic because it often means there’s something extramarital going on, or can be an unwelcome reminder of past relationships. “It’s scary to learn that you may contract something from your loved one who had unprotected sex in the past,” Ziegler says. “Getting tested and being proactive can help a spouse protect themselves.”

20| Silence.

“In my experience, when there is a lack of engagement, no response to questions, or no empathy expressed when they are upset, it is incredibly hurtful and damaging,” Gardiner says. “The wife feels unseen, unheard, and describes a feeling of disappearing. It destroys their confidence and sense of self-worth.” So even if you’re not sure what to say, say something.

Before I went back to graduate school, I was teaching creative writing at a maximum security girls’ correctional facility in southern California. The stories the girls wrote often included descriptions of rape, gang rape, sexual abuse and incest. They wrote about these horrible acts just like they wrote about going to the corner market or going out partying with their friends. The normalcy of rape in their world was a huge eye-opener for me. Somehow it became my mission to help teach them that this wasn’t normal for adolescent girls and it wasn’t right. There were things they could do, namely reaching out to people who could offer support and help get them out of dangerous situations. Of course, being incarcerated kept them out of danger temporarily, but I wanted it to stay that way when they were released back to their communities and families.

That experience lead me to pursue a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, an internship at the Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center, then a doctorate in Somatic Psychology with a focus on sex therapy. Over the years, not only did it become important for me to try to help survivors heal emotionally, I also wanted to help them heal physically. A huge component of that healing incorporates their sexuality. Thus, the idea for my dissertation was born and I committed three years of my life to researching the recovery of sexual health after sexual assault.

Abstract

Survivors of sexual assault experience physiologically and psychologically distressing symptoms. Sexual health, in particular, can be impaired as a result of sexual assault. Although substantive research exists concerning treatment modalities and outcomes of survivors’ aggregate recovery, little is available in regard to sexual assault survivors’ experiences of healing, particularly the embodied process of regaining sexual health. Toward the goal of better understanding this process, a grounded theory design and analysis was used to determine emergent themes and theories concerning the interplay of sexual assault, sexual health, and embodiment. The embodied experience of sexual health recovery was observed with 12 female participants over the age of 18 who are survivors of sexual assault. The research was unique in that it did not focus on specific therapeutic treatment outcomes, but rather the experience of each participant as they moved through their respective processes of recovery from survival to embodiment and finally to empowerment. The collective data revealed themes and concepts that contextualize sexual health recovery and its corresponding psychosomatic presentations in survivors of sexual assault. Providing insight into survivors’ embodied processes of recovery of sexual health will contribute to professional literature and inform future directions for research in the fields of somatic psychology, trauma therapy, and human sexuality.