Dr. David

Can one spouse's actions save a troubled marriage? Dr. David offers practical advice - and hope.

Setting aside our reaction in order to fully listen to our mate is a challenge, but necessary and critically important.

I wish all of us experienced day in, day out marital bliss. I wish the wild-eyed, early days of courting would last forever. But, alas, they do not.

We are all responsible for our behavior—nothing more. If we will do our work, cleaning our side of the street, the impact is often immense.

The years tend to take their toll on us physically, emotionally and can even impact the issue of being attracted to, and by, our mate.

Internal changes lead to external changes. If he has changed internally—a heart change—you will see evidence in his actions.

How often have you tried to get important messages to your husband, only to find that he’s just not listening to you? Many wives experience frustration when trying to communicate with their spouses. But it is possible to get through – if you change the way you communicate.

Depression is a whole-body problem. It affects our thoughts, actions, feelings, relationships and even our faith-walk.

It is difficult to know what to say to someone in this most challenging situation. Do we rush in to offer advice, stand back, or ask the individual involved how we can best befriend them?

Here are seven steps that could enhance the possibility of saving a marriage on the brink of divorce.

Any married person knows about this emotional dance---being mindful of me, she, and we---and is ready to make adjustments to meet the circumstances.

"My husband and I were married just over three years ago. For the first several years we went to church together regularly..."

You can’t make him listen to you. He can’t make you listen to him. We can only put ourselves in an emotional and spiritual space where someone might want to listen to us and connect to us.

Desperate and having read the latest articles and books about emotional abuse and narcissism, many women feel discouraged and wonder if there really is any help for their man.

A touch, combined with a loving gaze and kind words, adds a powerful impact. There is something very basic and powerful about a loving touch.