Dealing With Stress and Anxiety in Marriage | Monique Wells
11/13/24 • 39 min
Anxiety is a heavy word. Saying it out loud can invoke strong emotions, and dealing with it as an individual can be challenging enough. So how do you navigate through seasons of anxiety in your marriage? In this episode of The WinShape Marriage Podcast, Marlee Arnold sits down with Monique Wells, a licensed professional counselor with over 25 years of experience. They navigate this important conversation answering questions like, “How can I support my spouse if they’re dealing with anxiety?”; “What can we do if we’re both walking through an anxious season?”; and “How can we stay connected amidst it all?” Hear practical ways you can show up for your spouse and strategies to manage this season as a team.
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Time Stamps:
(1:50) What does anxiety look like and how do you pay attention to it
(4:47) If you’re noticing signs of generalized anxiety for yourself, how do you let your spouse into how you’re feeling
(8:45) How to support your spouse if they’re experiencing stress and anxiety
(14:39) How to navigate a stressful or anxious season together, if you’re both experiencing it
(21:03) How to recognize if generalized anxiety is moving into more chronic anxiety
(26:53) How to approach anxiety from a biblical perspective
(33:12) How important is it to maintain connection and intimacy during seasons of anxiety
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Links:
2 Corinthians 10:5-6 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2010%3A%205-6&version=ESV
Philippians 4:8 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%204%3A8&version=ESV
John 10:10 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2010%3A10&version=ESV
WinShape Marriage Website https://marriage.winshape.org/
WinShape Marriage Instagram https://www.instagram.com/winshapemarriage/
WinShape Marriage Retreats https://marriage.winshape.org/retreats/
Pastor & Ministry Leader Retreats https://marriage.winshape.org/ministry-retreats/
Spark deeper conversation with your spouse related to the episode with our free discussion questions. https://marriage.winshape.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/WSMPodcastDiscussionQuestions-S2Ep8.pdf
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Relevant Resources:
“How To Find a Marriage Counselor” https://marriage.winshape.org/resource/how-to-find-a-marriage-counselor/
Anxiety is a heavy word. Saying it out loud can invoke strong emotions, and dealing with it as an individual can be challenging enough. So how do you navigate through seasons of anxiety in your marriage? In this episode of The WinShape Marriage Podcast, Marlee Arnold sits down with Monique Wells, a licensed professional counselor with over 25 years of experience. They navigate this important conversation answering questions like, “How can I support my spouse if they’re dealing with anxiety?”; “What can we do if we’re both walking through an anxious season?”; and “How can we stay connected amidst it all?” Hear practical ways you can show up for your spouse and strategies to manage this season as a team.
----------
Time Stamps:
(1:50) What does anxiety look like and how do you pay attention to it
(4:47) If you’re noticing signs of generalized anxiety for yourself, how do you let your spouse into how you’re feeling
(8:45) How to support your spouse if they’re experiencing stress and anxiety
(14:39) How to navigate a stressful or anxious season together, if you’re both experiencing it
(21:03) How to recognize if generalized anxiety is moving into more chronic anxiety
(26:53) How to approach anxiety from a biblical perspective
(33:12) How important is it to maintain connection and intimacy during seasons of anxiety
----------
Links:
2 Corinthians 10:5-6 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2010%3A%205-6&version=ESV
Philippians 4:8 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%204%3A8&version=ESV
John 10:10 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2010%3A10&version=ESV
WinShape Marriage Website https://marriage.winshape.org/
WinShape Marriage Instagram https://www.instagram.com/winshapemarriage/
WinShape Marriage Retreats https://marriage.winshape.org/retreats/
Pastor & Ministry Leader Retreats https://marriage.winshape.org/ministry-retreats/
Spark deeper conversation with your spouse related to the episode with our free discussion questions. https://marriage.winshape.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/WSMPodcastDiscussionQuestions-S2Ep8.pdf
----------
Relevant Resources:
“How To Find a Marriage Counselor” https://marriage.winshape.org/resource/how-to-find-a-marriage-counselor/
Previous Episode
Intimacy Is More Than Just Sex | Dr. Juli Slattery
There is so much more to intimacy with your spouse than just physical intimacy. In fact, Dr. Juli Slattery says there’s a difference between being sexually active and sexually intimate. So, how do you tap into deeper intimacy in your marriage? Dr. Slattery is back on The WinShape Marriage Podcast talking about just this with Rob Philo and Marlee Arnold. They discuss practical ways you can engage with your spouse outside the bedroom that will impact intimacy in the bedroom and even ways you might be sabotaging intimacy without realizing it.
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Time Stamps:
(1:12) How intimacy extends beyond the bedroom
(3:10) How does intimacy outside the bedroom impact intimacy in the bedroom
(4:56) What are some practical things you can do outside the bedroom that will impact intimacy in the bedroom
(8:14) How “talking” can fail to build intimacy at times
(11:28) How you might be sabotaging intimacy without realizing it
(21:06) How to work toward recovering intimacy after a breach of trust in marriage
(24:28) How to develop intimacy in your marriage when there are walls built up
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Links:
Authentic Intimacy https://www.authenticintimacy.com/
“God, Sex, and Your Marriage” https://shop.authenticintimacy.com/products/god-sex-and-your-marriage
Faithful & True https://www.faithfulandtrue.com/
Be Broken https://www.bebroken.org/
WinShape Marriage Website https://marriage.winshape.org/
WinShape Marriage Instagram https://www.instagram.com/winshapemarriage/
WinShape Marriage Intensives https://marriage.winshape.org/intensives/
The Journey https://marriage.winshape.org/journey/
260 Free Printable Conversation Starters for Couples https://marriage.winshape.org/resource/conversation-starters-for-date-night/
Spark deeper conversation with your spouse related to the episode with our free discussion questions. https://marriage.winshape.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/10/WSMPodcastDiscussionQuestions-S2Ep7.pdf
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Relevant Resources:
“90 Date Ideas for Couples” https://marriage.winshape.org/resource/90-date-ideas-for-couples/
“How To Find a Marriage Counselor” https://marriage.winshape.org/resource/how-to-find-a-marriage-counselor/
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Relevant Episodes:
God’s Design for Sex in Marriage | Dr. Juli Slattery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY5u0EL6HzI&t=1797s
Next Episode
How To Build Stronger Blended Families | Ron Deal
Did you know nearly half of adults are a part of a stepfamily relationship? We know blending families comes with its own set of unique challenges, so on today’s episode, Rob Philo talks with Ron Deal, a licensed marriage and family therapist and an expert in stepfamily education; he’s also one of the most widely read and viewed experts on this subject. In this conversation, Ron shares practical strategies for coparenting straight from his book, “The Smart Stepfamily.” If you are a co-parent, or you know someone who is, check out this episode packed with helpful advice and encouragement for fostering harmony in your blended family.
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Time Stamps:
(1:35) What inspired Ron Deal to get involved in stepfamily ministry
(4:35) When it comes to coparenting, respect the other parent and his or her household
(13:42) Schedule a regular meeting to discuss coparenting matters
(16:40) When children express confusion or anger towards your ex, don’t use it as an opportunity to berate the other parent
(19:47) Children should have everything they need in each home
(21:35) Make your custody structure work for your children even if you don’t like the details of your arrangement
(29:04) If you plan to hire a babysitter for more than four hours, give the other parent the option to watch the kid
(30:37) Resist the urge to only do special activities with all of the children around and not just some of the children
(33:29) Have financial conversations in private; your kids shouldn’t be your messenger
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Links:
Smart Stepfamilies https://smartstepfamilies.com/
“The Smart Stepfamily” https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Stepfamily-Seven-Healthy-Family-ebook/dp/B00GHXRSOK/
Romans 12:17-18 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2012%3A17-18&version=ESV
“The Smart Stepfamily Guide to Financial Planning” https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Stepfamily-Guide-Financial-Planning-ebook/dp/B07PZZ483X/
FamilyLife https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/blended-families/
Blended Families Moving Ahead WinShape Marriage Retreat https://marriage.winshape.org/retreat/blended-families-moving-ahead-october-2025/
Jeff and Tammy’s Story: Redemption for Their Marriage and Family https://marriage.winshape.org/story/jeff-tammys-story-redemption-for-their-marriage-and-family/
WinShape Marriage Website https://marriage.winshape.org/
WinShape Marriage Instagram https://www.instagram.com/winshapemarriage/
WinShape Marriage Retreats https://marriage.winshape.org/retreats/
The Journey https://marriage.winshape.org/journey/
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