How Connecting with the Ones You Love Positively Impacts Your Mental Health

Ok so you may be thinking this is a blog about anxiety and mental health related topics so why is there a blog about where to go and what to do for a date night in Wilmington, NC?

Stick with me here though!

Okay so let’s do a little activity before we dive right in…

First, I want you to take a moment and close your eyes.

Then, I want you to think back to the last fun time you spent time with your partner. Maybe this was a special date or just an outing to the grocery store. Can you picture their face? What was going on around you? Do you remember how you felt?

Next, sit and soak that in for a moment.

What did you notice? Did a smile come to your face? Did your heart rate increase because of excitement? How do you feel?

If you were to tell me you felt happy, excited, loved, or cared about I would tell you these are the reasons why spending time with the partner you love can positively impact your mental health.

I’m an anxiety therapist in Wilmington, NC-based virtual counseling practice. I specialize in working with high achieving anxious women and provide anxiety treatment, treatment for perfectionism, burnout counseling, and treatment for imposter syndrome. I provide online therapy to high achieving women located in Maryland and North Carolina.

If you are interested in working with me for in-person therapy or online therapy, click the button below to schedule your free 15 minute consultation.

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Keep reading to learn more about 5 ways dating your partner can improve your mental health and my top 5 date night ideas in Wilmington, NC.

5 Ways Dating Your Partner Can Improve Your Mental Health and Improve Your Relationship

There are many ways dating your partner can positively impact your mental health. Check out my top 5 listed below.

Going on dates with your partner can help build on the friendship, which is the foundation of a healthy relationship. In turn, it can help to create confidence in the relationship and in yourself
Reconnecting with your partner with some 1:1 time can increase feeling special and loved. Spending the past year in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic did not leave a lot of opportunity to get out and connect with your partner without the kids around. It is important to have time with your partner and be able to put your relationship first.
Oxytocin the “love hormone” plays many roles in human body but when it is boosted in our system, when we get around our partner, it can be helpful to reduce stress and anxiety. Learn more about the impact of oxytocin here.
Time spent together can help reduce worries and provide reassurance giving you a sense of closeness. You or your partner may have a history of getting caught up in giving extra hours to work, the kids, the house, or others, and when this happens distance within the relationship may also happen.
Date nights or date days can create an opportunity to shake up the norm and do something different in your routine. This can reenergize you and give you something to look forward to. Both of these can be really helpful for your mental health.

For more information on anxiety check out these other helpful blog posts:

5 Things to Do in Wilmington, NC in the Summer to Calm Anxiety

Finding the Right Anxiety Therapist for You

What to Expect When You Start Therapy for Anxiety

Understanding Your Anxiety and How to Treat it

Also check out this blog post on how your partner can help you if you have anxiety - 5 Things To Do When You Are Dating Someone with Anxiety

Now that you’ve got an idea on how dating your partner can boost your mental health and improve your relationship, check out these 5 date night ideas in Wilmington, NC.

Schedule My Free 15 Minute Consultation

5 Date Night Ideas in Wilmington, NC

There are a lot of great things about living in Wilmington, NC and it offers some really great date night opportunities. Here are top 5 ideas for an awesome date night so get out your calendar and send your boo a date night invite with one of these ideas!

Watching sunsets over the Cape Fear River. This might be one of my favorites. The colors and natural beauty that get gifted is just amazing! Here are some of my favorite spots to watch the sunset include: south end of Wrightsville Beach (end of S. Lumina Ave.), dinner at South Beach Grill, drinks at Smoke on the Water, dinner at Marina Grill, drinks at Cloud 9 rooftop bar
Take a stroll in downtown Wilmington, NC and hang out down at the Riverwalk. Have a drink, grab some food, and maybe even get some dessert from Kilwins Chocolates or Boombalatti’s Homemade Ice Cream. If you are feeling up to maybe even get some tickets to for ghost walk and haunted pub tour.
Get out on the water! Take a boat and cruise up the Cape Fear River or check out the sunset cruise from Wrightsville Beach Scenic Tours.
Check out a cooking or wine class at The Seasoned Gourmet or DeMarco Family Kitchen. Please note that classes may be suspended during times of COVID-19.
Hit Johnnie Mercers Pier in Wrightsville Beach for some fishing fun! Also bonus points if you time your fishing adventure for the evening sunset.

Reduce Your Anxiety and begin anxiety Therapy in Wilmington, NC

Anxiety and other mental health challenges can impact self and how you respond within your relationships. Having a healthy emotional health and mental health is also important for having healthy partnerships and marriage.