Tabitha has recently become more concerned about environmental issues, and she has asked her husband to stop buying products packaged in plastic. He thinks her request is silly and will make life too difficult. Whenever he comes home from the store with items in plastic packaging, Tabitha gets angry and feels like her husband is dismissing her needs. Tabitha calls her friend to complain. "This issue is bigger than just helping the environment. I thought he loved me, but now I'm not sure. We don't even speak these days, so I think it might be time for marriage counseling."

Tabitha and her husband's conflict has escalated to the tension stage because .

Tabitha and her husband are actively hurting one another.

Tabitha is feeling uncomfortable in her relationship with her husband.

Tabitha realizes that her husband is not meeting her needs.

Tabitha is enlisting outside help to assist them with talking to one another.