Relationship anxiety is more common than you think. It's someone's anxiety towards relationships with family, friends, spouse, and even platonic relationships. It might push a person to keep other people in the relationship by clinging to them or being overly possessive. Here's everything you need to know about Relationship Anxiety, its signs, causes, and top ways to overcome it.
Is
Relationship Anxiety Normal?
Yes, some level
of anxiety about a relationship is common, but it can be problematic when it
becomes severe and lasts longer than usual or affects the relationship and
other areas of a person's life. Sometimes, relationship anxiety can lead to
excess stress and separation anxiety and might impact how you interpret your
feelings and emotions.
Key Signs of
Relationship Anxiety
·
You fear commitment and feel
vulnerable in a relationship.
·
You might end relationships
before they become too serious.
·
You might not express your
needs and desires because you are afraid that they might leave.
·
You always think that the other
person in a relationship will replace you with someone better.
·
You doubt your compatibility.
·
You overthink everything the
other person does and says.
·
You spend more time worrying
about the relationship than enjoying it.
Key Causes of
Relationship Anxiety
·
Low self-esteem
·
Emotional abuse or neglect
·
Attachment difficulties
·
Significantly intrusive or
disengaged parents
·
General anxiety that manifests
as worry about every relationship you have
How to
Overcome Relationship Anxiety?
Ø Find Out the Root Cause
Know why you are
anxious about a relationship. It can be due to several reasons like low
self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, shame, or even fear of losing someone.
Build a healthy relationship with yourself to overcome relationship anxiety.
Ø Be Honest About Your Feelings
If certain
actions by the other person trigger fear, stress, or anxiety, communicate about
them with the other person and figure out a way to fix that.
Ø Practice Self-Soothing Methods
Opt for
self-soothing methods when you feel too anxious. You can try deep
breathing, yoga, guided meditation, etc.
Ø Build Trust
Work on building
trust with people you have a relationship with. It won't happen overnight. You
will have to have faith and keep at it for a while.
Ø Address Conflicts
You and the
other person in a relationship might not be on the same page about everything.
So, it would be best if you learned to address conflicts or differences of
opinions.
Ø Don't Jump to Conclusions
If you have
relationship anxiety, you need to ensure that you don't jump to conclusions
without knowing the facts.
Ø Focus on the Positives
When you are
filled with negativity, you might want to sit down and write about the positive
aspects of the relationship. Read more about journaling here.
Ø Go to Therapy
If things are
not getting better, you should seek therapy to process your thoughts and
feelings. You can find an online or offline therapist who can help you face
hard truths and heal. Sometimes, you might need medication to aid the process. If
your doctors advise, you might need selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and
noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors.
Sources:
https://www.choosingtherapy.com/relationship-anxiety/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/relationship-anxiety
calmclinic.com/anxiety-types/relationship-anxiety