Every couple fights. What separates strong relationships is not fewer arguments but better repair: the process of coming back together after a rupture.

Repair cannot happen while your body is still flooded with adrenaline. Take a real break of twenty to thirty minutes, framed as a pause with a promised return, not a silent withdrawal.

Start the repair by owning your part, however small, then describe your feelings with I statements and reflect your partner's version back before responding. Agree on one concrete change for next time.

Repair is complete when you feel close again, which usually needs a deliberate gesture like a hug or a shared walk. It is normal to feel tender for a day or two after a big argument.