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Anxiety is a normal emotion that everyone experiences from time to time.
But when anxiety is constant and starts to interfere with your everyday life, it can be destructive—especially in your relationships.
If you’re in a relationship and struggling with anxiety, know that you’re not alone. In this article, we’ll explore some of the ways anxiety can impact your relationship and what you can do to cope.
Anxiety Can Cause You to Withdraw From Your Partner
When you’re feeling anxious, it’s common to want to withdraw from social situations and close yourself off to the people you care about — including your partner.
This is because anxiety can make you feel insecure, unworthy, and like you’re not good enough. As a result, you may start to avoid your partner or push them away altogether.
If you find yourself doing this, it’s important to communicate with your partner about what you’re feeling and why you’re withdrawing.
This way, they can understand what’s going on and provide support. Additionally, try to remember that just because you’re feeling anxious doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with your relationship — it’s just a normal part of life.
Read More: 15 Signs That Prove You and Your Partner Are Soul Mates
Anxiety Can Make You Jealous and Possessive
Jealousy and possessiveness are two more common behaviors associated with anxiety. When you’re feeling jealous, you may start to question your partner’s fidelity or wonder if they’re interested in someone else.
Alternatively, if you’re feeling possessive, you may start to feel like your partner belongs to you and that they shouldn’t be talking or spending time with anyone else but you.
These feelings can cause a lot of conflict in a relationship and may even lead to breakups if they’re not addressed.
If you find yourself feeling jealous or possessive, again, it’s important to communicate with your partner about what you’re experiencing.
Additionally, try to remind yourself that these feelings are coming from a place of insecurity and don’t necessarily reflect reality.
Anxiety Can Make You Paranoid
Paranoia is another symptom of anxiety that can crop up in relationships.
If you’re feeling paranoid, you may start to worry that your partner is cheating on you or lying to you — even if there’s no evidence to support these fears.
Paranoia can lead to digging through your partner’s things or constantly asking them questions about their whereabouts in an attempt to quell your fears.
This behavior obviously isn’t healthy for any relationship and will only serve to drive a wedge between you and your partner.
If paranoia is something you’re struggling with, again, communication is key. Talk to your partner about what you’re feeling and why it’s causing problems in the relationship.
It may also be helpful to consult with a therapist or counselor who can help get to the root of these fears and address them in a healthy way.
Read More: How Generational Stereotypes Hold Us Back at Work
Final words
If anxiety is something that you struggle with day-to-day, know that it doesn’t have to ruin your relationships — but it might if it’s not managed in a healthy way.
If left unchecked, anxiety can cause people to withdraw from their partners, become jealous or possessive, or even become paranoid.
If any of these sounds like things you’ve been struggling with in your relationships, don’t hesitate to reach out for help from a therapist or counselor who can assist you in managing your anxiety in a healthy way.
