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Is Relationship Anxiety Holding You Back? 3 Tips to Cope
February, with its focus on Valentine’s Day, can be a difficult time for adults without a partner. Those with a significant other may also face relationship anxiety for a variety of reasons now and throughout the year.
While one partner may feel more anxious than the other, relationship anxiety affects both in different ways. If anxiety holds you back from creating a loving union, it’s never too late to learn better ways to cope.
Board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner Bosede Iwuamadi, DNP, PMHNP, offers compassionate treatment for anxiety and depression, and more via telehealth at Newstone Behavioral Health in Garland, Texas.
What is relationship anxiety?
If you continually feel insecure in your relationship, need constant reassurance, and/or tend to push away your significant other out of fear of abandonment, it could be due to anxiety.
Here are some issues that may trigger attachment insecurities:
- Low self-esteem
- Traumatic experiences in past relationships
- Poor communication
Dr. Iwuamadi helps you process your underlying feelings so you can approach your relationship from a position of inner strength rather than weakness.
What causes relationship insecurities?
Who we are today directly relates to who we’ve been. Our past relationships with family, friends, and partners carry a lot of weight. Feelings of abandonment in our relationship may stem from past experiences, whether or not they are presently warranted.
Your anxiety may display itself in a variety of ways, such as:
- Constantly seeking reassurance that your partner won’t leave
- Questioning your compatibility continually
- Starting arguments over minor issues
- Overanalyzing your partner’s words and deeds
- Pushing your partner away when you really wish they’d stay
Take heart, there are ways to turn things around.
How to cope with relationship anxiety
We all hope to grow into strong, caring individuals and partners. Our paths, however, may differ. The more we focus on our own development, the less likely we are to feel out of control when navigating our connections with others.
Dr. Iwuamadi offers suggestions to develop your sense of self, such as:
- Exercise regularly to feel more grounded
- Practice meditation to center yourself
- Breathe deeply
- Tap into your creativity
- Play an instrument
- Write in a journal
- Paint a picture
She also recommends ways to calm your relationship anxieties, including:
1: Uncover your triggers
It’s hard to show vulnerability, especially when fears of abandonment overshadow your joy. When you feel shaky and uncertain, take a breath. Try to understand what’s triggering you, whether it’s past events or relationships, or worries about the future.
Dr. Iwuamadi helps you find ways to quiet negative self-talk and stay in the moment.
2: Communicate better with your partner
When you feel anxious, there’s usually a lot of chatter going on inside your head. Yet, you may be afraid to express yourself fully for fear of rocking the boat.
It’s crucial to create a safe space where honest dialogue is supported. It’s also important to stop blaming each other when problems arise. You both need to feel comfortable sharing your true feelings, hopes, and fears to build a solid foundation of trust.
Dr. Iwuamadi helps you diffuse your anxiety, construct “rules of engagement” for arguments, and practice positive communication.
3: Take responsibility for your own well-being
Evolving from a dependent child to a self-sufficient adult takes work. It’s important to pursue your own interests and hobbies, even while you’re in a relationship. Otherwise, you may become overly dependent on your partner for fulfillment.
Remember, your most important relationship is with yourself.
The doctor is in
It helps to talk through your fears and concerns without judgment with a trained professional to get to the root of your problems.
Dr. Iwuamadi and our dynamic team help you learn new ways to understand and communicate your wants and needs. If you’d like help managing your relationship anxiety or discuss any mental health issues via telehealth, simply contact us today at Newstone Behavioral Health in Garland, Texas.