If you are in a relationship, it is natural to feel a little jealous at times, especially if you have very strong feelings for your partner.
Occasional jealousy is okay and may even add a little excitement and zest to the relationship. But what to do when this jealousy becomes more frequent, intense and even overwhelming?
Today more than ever before, people are afraid of being rejected, not accepted, not being loved and worry about losing people they care for. These feelings of loss are natural. Yet, when thoughts and feelings of jealousy are extreme, they stem partially as a result of insecurities. When fear lessens, so does jealousy.
Most of us have felt it at one time or another. It could be a mild annoyance or a fire inside you, consuming you, making you feel like you might explode. Although it is a common emotional reaction when a person is feeling threatened, jealousy is one of biggest relationship destroyers out there.
The foundation of any healthy and happy relationship is trust and respect. A person struggling with jealousy is unable to trust the person they are with or show respect for them as an individual or their boundaries.
Overtime this behavior will destroy the feelings of love and affection that once existed. It will also likely cause repeated arguing and a need for one partner to prove themselves and their loyalty over and over again. This can be exhausting and prevent a relationship from growing and establishing a solid foundation.
If you have found that jealousy is a problem in your relationship, whether it is you that are jealous or your partner, it can be painful for both of you. Getting beyond it will take patience, communication and changing of beliefs.
I suffer from jealousy. My au-pair became my daughter’s aunt. My daughter respects and seems to connect with her more lovingly.
It is a major source of my pain to see them during the holidays together.