My boyfriend has anxiety and is pushing me away. People with a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) tend to face difficult times during their lives. The reason is, his heart and mind are always filled with anxiety so that he feels uneasy. Though everything that is in his mind is not necessarily true or will happen. The effect of excessive anxiety is not only for the sufferer but also for the couple. So, how does excessive anxiety affect a romantic relationship with a partner? Here’s the explanation.
People who are overwhelmed with anxiety tend to depend on their partners
My boyfriend has anxiety and is pushing me away. Some people with GAD feel that they need their partner or best friend. The reason is, they believe that their partner and people around them will support them. Because of this, people with GAD can become very dependent or dependent on their partners.
However, the effects of excessive anxiety can lead to inappropriate suspicion or paranoia. For example, feeling suspicious when your partner doesn’t respond to chat quickly, fearing your partner will suddenly become unfaithful, and various other anxieties. In friendships, people with GAD may think that their best friends are talking behind their backs.
People who experience excessive anxiety are also more easily provoked by negative emotions. This unstable mood makes them often angry with their partner for no reason. So, don’t be surprised if over time your partner feels annoyed and lowers his trust in you. As a result, your love relationship is in danger of faltering.
If you’re one of them, try to remind yourself that your suspicions are just the fruit of your mind. Take a moment to consider the things that make you anxious and worried. Is it because of the effects of fatigue, workload, or a bad mood.
It never hurts to ask a therapist for advice on cognitive and behavioral therapy. This therapy can help you reduce the effects of excessive anxiety that has an impact on your partner. You and your partner can share each other’s problems and decide on the best course of action to resolve them.
My partner has anxiety and ignores me
My boyfriend has anxiety and is pushing me away. Meanwhile, some people with GAD can be very independent and have a solitary hobby. That is, they prefer to avoid other people. This is presumably because they are trying to control their negative emotions so they don’t have an impact on other people.
People with excessive anxiety may become more introverted and rarely express their feelings. This actually makes them seem less empathetic and cold to others.
If you are one of them, you may feel uncomfortable with the intimacy of a romantic relationship. Or it can be distrustful of anything your partner says or does. Even when you’re in trouble, you may find it more difficult to say what’s in your heart.
To overcome this, try to undergo cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal-emotional process therapy. Both therapies can help you explore past, present, and emotional relationships. The goal is that you can find the cause of your excessive anxiety and trust your partner’s presence.
Read also: Avoidant Personality Disorder In Relationships
Tips for overcoming the effects of excessive anxiety to maintain a harmonious relationship
In stressful or uncertain situations, anxiety is natural. However, for people who have GAD or an anxiety disorder, you may need someone else’s help to control your anxiety. For example, a therapist or a mental health specialist (psychiatrist).
Medications that may be prescribed to help calm your anxiety include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). The calming effect of the drug can help you think clearer and more stable.
The most important thing is support from family and closest people, especially your own partner. People who experience excessive anxiety need motivation from a partner. Do these tips with your partner so that it is easier for you to reduce the effects of excessive anxiety, including:
1. Find the cause of anxiety
Anxiety can be caused by past experiences, predictions of the future, or current worries. Well, try to find the cause of your anxiety. For example, what do you want or need from your current partner, and what kind of solution do you and your partner want.
2. Practice listening
This method can help you improve the communication patterns that are passive or aggressive in your relationship during this time. Communicate and talk from heart to heart so that you and your partner share the problems they are experiencing.
3. Think only positive things
When overwhelmed by worries, it becomes very easy for you to ignore the positive things around you. Therefore, try to bring positive thoughts to your partner by trusting him wholeheartedly.