Shifting blame is one tactic that emotional abusers use to take the focus off their own behavior. Learn to recognize and confront this emotionally abusive behavior and hold the person accountable for their own actions.

Relationships are meant to make you feel confident and good about yourself. Unfortunately for many of us, our relationships are the main cause of all of our stress and anxiety. Trying to be someone your not is also a factor in feeling stressed; feeling like you are a failure. The stress and anxiety can sometimes take over who you are, causing you to be insecure in your relationship. In the end sometimes the relationship isn't strong enough to move forward.

There is much more than simply life to be stressed about these days - the recession is still claiming jobs, savings accounts, tuition funds, and homes. The rich are also making record profits but I digress. Unfortunately, as the economic situation worsens, many are also gaining weight due to chronic stress and anxiety. Cortisol, better known as the stress hormone, is thought to contribute to weight gain by slowing down your metabolism, increasing blood pressure and blood sugar, and reducing immune responses.