Episode 46: The Importance of Friendship in Romantic Relationships
What does it take to be true friends with your romantic partner…and not just partners in bills, parenting, schedules, and the rest of daily life? Relationship & sex therapist Dr. Rebecca Howardy Eudy and pelvic floor physical therapist Dr. Alex DiGrado explore the kind of friendship that helps a relationship feel safe, supportive, and connected over time. This conversation is a reminder that closeness and independence can co-exist - and that treating your partner with the same respect, generosity, and curiosity you offer a close friend can deepen romantic love.
What you'll learn:
How to stay connected to your partner without taking on every feeling or problem as your own.
What Twilight gets wrong about all-consuming love - and what a healthier kind of closeness can look like.
How entitlement and self-sacrifice are often two sides of the same coin.
How to root for your partner’s choices - without correcting or micromanaging them - even when they are not the choices you would make for yourself.
Tune in if you've ever thought:
“We used to actually hang out and do things, but now it feels like we’re just two roommates running a house.”
“I feel completely drained whenever they’re in a bad mood, like I’m not allowed to be happy if they’re upset.”
“I know it’s great that my partner has their own interests, so why do I still feel left out when they go out without me?”
Helpful resources:
Under the Hood Episode 20: The Wheel of Consent - How to Get Clear on What You Want
Under the Hood Episode 12: Resentment in Relationships (& why “letting it go” doesn’t work)
Parents in Love: A Guide to Great Sex After Kids by Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy
Find a pelvic floor PT near you: pelvicrehab.com or Pelvic Global Directory
Connect with us:
Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy
Website: rebeccaeudy.com
Instagram: @rebeccahowardeudy
Newsletter: Parents in Love Substack
Dr. Alexandra DiGrado
Website: bostonpelvicpt.com
Instagram: @bostonpelvicpt
Newsletter: Under the Hood
Under the Hood Podcast
Instagram: @underthehooddocs
Website: underthehoodpod.com
YouTube: @underthehooddocs
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