Today’s job market has many couples well aware of the strain unemployment can put on a relationship. Constant stress can cause fights, break up an otherwise healthy relationship, and really put “for better or worse” to the test.

Often, coping with this anxiety and pressure can be just as taxing for the employed spouse as it is for the one who is out of work.

But this doesn’t have to be the case. Instead of letting unemployment destroy your relationship, allow it to strengthen your bond as a couple. We show you how to cope:

Read How to Keep Your Marriage Strong

Dealing with Emotions
It’s not unusual for your unemployed spouse to feel a range of emotions from lack of confidence to identity loss to financial worry. As the employed half of the relationship, you must remain understanding and compassionate. Joblessness can create a sense of hopelessness, feelings of displacement, and depression due to days and months of continued rejection.

On the other hand, it’s also important that the unemployed member of the relationship be aware that the strain of unemployment doesn’t just affect them, but you as well. You may feel a combination of sympathy and anger towards your jobless partner. But as much as these emotions might seem overwhelming and at times confusing, you owe it to your spouse to be both a motivational cheerleader and a listening ear when needed.

Treating Unemployment as Temporary
Both you and your spouse must exercise an attitude that treats unemployment as temporary. Rejection, while difficult, is inevitable during this time. It’s important to keep in mind that the more jobs applied to, the more employment opportunities are created. Most times, just being an active job hunter (or support to a job hunter) can help combat feeling of dejection and unhappiness.