Do They Even Like Me? Don't Worry Yourself Out of Another Relationship

New relationships are commonly associated with hopeful butterflies, childish excitement, and slightly nervous laughter.  But for some, what seems like the beginning of a wonderful companionship leads to sweaty palms, worrisome doubts, catastrophizing ruminations, and overwhelming anxiety.

If that sounds like you, you are far from alone. While it may seem like you will never be in a comfortable, relaxed, and worry-free relationship, there are ways to cope with relationship anxiety that can help you ease your doubts and fears.

What is Relationship Anxiety?

Relationship anxiety is simply when someone feels anxious about their relationship, but most people experience some level of anxiety over budding relationships. However, if it starts to disrupt your well-being or your ability to form lasting healthy relationships, that’s when it becomes a problem.

With relationship anxiety, you may worry about the future, stress over specific dates or experiences, read too much into your partner’s behavior, or become distressed about the relationship in general.

When it strikes, it may cause you to ask yourself, “Why do they even like me,” “When are they going to break up with me?” or “Why aren’t they returning my calls?”

If that sounds like you, then you may struggle with relationship anxiety, which can interfere with a happy, communicative, and vibrant relationship. In some cases, it may even cause you to sabotage a relationship knowingly or unknowingly by picking fights, pushing your partner away, or testing boundaries.

Relationship anxiety is certainly a frustrating problem to have, but there are ways to cope and learn to develop healthy, lasting relationships.

How to Cope with Relationship Anxiety

When feeling anxious about a relationship, there are lots of ways to cope, ease worries, and promote a healthier partnership moving forward.

Communicate

Communication is an essential component of any healthy relationship, but it is also a good way to alleviate some of your relationship worries. Telling your partner how you feel and what you want out of the relationship can ensure you are both on the same page. It also encourages your partner to tell you their expectations, hopes, and feelings.

By opening up about your worries and doubts, you and your partner can work through them together. Instead of ruminating on possible negative outcomes or wondering constantly about how your partner truly feels about you, talking about it can unravel your uncertainties and leave you feeling confident in the future of your companionship.

Be Mindful

When your worried thoughts about your relationship start to flow through your mind, it can be helpful to practice mindfulness. A lot of relationship anxiety is focused on the past or future, leaving you no time to enjoy the present experiences.

By focusing on what you can control in the present moment, you can enjoy the relationship more, which, in turn, can help to eradicate your negative thoughts. Additionally, practicing mindfulness is known to boost relationship satisfaction and may help to foster cooperation and stability. To improve your mindfulness, try implementing meditation into your routine for a few minutes each day.

Avoid Reassurance

When relationship anxiety strikes, it can be instinctual to seek reassurance and ask your partner how they feel about you. While it may seem like it will solve the problem when your partner tells you that you are attractive, clever, intelligent, or funny, it can cause your insecurities to grow. In addition, getting your self-worth from your partner places the burden on them.

No matter what someone else says, you need to learn to accept and love yourself. Your partner is a different person and will show their love in different ways than you expect, but your own self-esteem will allow you to feel comfortable and trusting in the relationship.

Try Therapy

Therapy can help you manage your anxious feelings, develop coping techniques, and build self-esteem. By changing negative thoughts patterns and learning to value yourself, you will be able to manage your anxiety and open yourself up to healthier, happier relationships.

While it will take some time and effort, I would love to help you take control of your relationship anxiety by improving your self-worth and developing effective coping methods. As an expert in anxiety and relationship issues, I can help you find lasting joy in relationships and learn to live a daily life free from constant worry and stress.

Learn more about our anxiety therapy in Plainview, New York