Stress in relationships

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Angry_squirrel

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Loner Jo Jo said:
((Damn it. I rewrote this post because the first one didn't pop up until after I clicked send, of course. <<))

In my opinion, what causes stress in relationships half the time is not actual circumstances, but your own baggage. Or their baggage. Or both. Not to say that the actual circumstances can't be stressful. People aren't perfect and make mistakes, both big and small, but I find it is often exacerbated by baggage and hang-ups. I know that it was my baggage that destroyed my last relationship.

My advice? Get help. I'm not judging here. As soon as I get back to school where I can see a therapist for free, I'm getting an appointment ASAP because I can't allow my past to hold me back anymore. For you, it seems that there is something from your past as well that is causing these problems. When you logically realize that nothing is going to happen, yet you are losing sleep over it, it's time to ask a professional what you can do to fix this. It's time especially if you like this girl as much as you say you do; you can't let your baggage ruin this relationship before it even takes off.
That's actually very interesting. I've always assumed relationships are stressful no matter what (obviously with some rare exceptions). I know my ex had baggage. I know that I do now.

I want therapy. The main reason I've avoided counselling is because it's short term, and I don't believe anything short term can help. My mother is studying to be a counsellor, and she has been unable to help me, although obviously the fact that my mother is anything but neutral hinders this a little. I would not turn down therapy, but I simply cannot afford it at the moment.

Thanks, at any rate.
 

Angry_squirrel

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Rin Little said:
Sorry, just mean to say that it seems like you're unraveling a bit over this. And you'll probably hate this suggestion but... Maybe you shouldn't be in a relationship yet? I mean if you're having this many issues with it then maybe being single is a better option than being anxiety-ridden. I'm kind of in the same boat because I broke up with a guy who I was planning on getting married to about four months ago and it still sucks but I can't even think of being in another relationship yet, even it was with him. Not because anything bad happened in the relationship, but because it would be too much stress too soon after it.
I know. Hopefully I'll be better tomorrow.
And I know it was a stupid idea. I did want to wait longer before asking her out, until: A; I knew her better, and B; managed to sort myself out a little more.
Thing is, I was lying with her in a tent, we'd spent pretty much the whole week making out, and we live a fair way from each other. It was about 6 a.m. and she had to leave soon, and I decided if I didn't ask her out, I may not get a better chance. I don't regret it, in all my life I've only ever wanted to go out with two people, her being one, my ex being the other. Maybe my standards are too high, but the fact, when finding someone you like is so rare, you damn well don't want to turn them down.

I just hope things work out is all.
 

Angry_squirrel

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Well I've just looked at the clock (it's half 4 where I live) and I gotta be up at 9 to practice for my audition, so I figure I should at least lie down and get some rest, even if I can't sleep.

Thank you, all of you. While I feel stupid for the fact that I've turned to the internet of all places in search of advice, and also kinda ashamed that I've said all this, a lot of you guys have been absolutely brilliant, and I do feel a little better. If it means anything, your words haven't been wasted, and I'm certainly considering counselling a lot more than I was before. I'm going to try and make things work between me and her, hopefully keep this side of me from her, at least until we're closer, or maybe forever, if I get a little more confident with the relationship.
 

lumenadducere

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Angry_squirrel said:
Counselling though. Fuck man, it really is alarming me how many people are suggesting this. I had expected responses to go along the lines of "cheer up! You're being paranoid. You'll feel better tomorrow" and "you've got trust issues, don't generalise them to all girls". I was not expecting this.
Don't be alarmed. I went through a time very recently where I was suppressing my emotions as well, and everyone liked how calm and chill I was. Trust me when I say that it's much more unhealthy than you'd think. I went to counseling because my university covered 10 sessions and it was immensely helpful. It's incredibly nice just having a space where you can talk freely and without any worries about what anyone outside may think. And your personality won't change and no longer be chill or calm - you still will be, but you'll have a way to actually express some of the things that bother you. I had to have my sister convince me to make my first appointment, and it honestly was one of the best things I wound up doing.

You mentioned earlier in the thread that you'd be able to get a certain number of sessions for free. You're right that it's not a short-term fix, but go anyways. I know it very likely will be frustrating to only have a certain number of sessions before you can no longer go, but I'd go ahead and take the ones you can get now. It can't be anyone you know, however, so I wouldn't go to your mom. And hell, you may need to try a few different people before you find one that you like and get along with - everyone has their own personalities, and even with training it comes out. By its nature it's a very private thing so it's important that you're with someone you're comfortable speaking openly and honestly to. One of the reasons I suggest using the ones you can right now though is so that you can use them to find a person you like. If you get extra time with that person, great, and if not then you at least know who they are so you can look them up again when finances are more secure.

And relationships aren't supposed to be stressful in and of themselves. The stress comes when something bad happens or when there are external forces at work. If you've only seen other people in stressful relationships then that explains why you think it's the standard for everyone, but simply being in a relationship with someone shouldn't stress you out.

Edit: Best of luck in the audition and with the relationship. Hope you get some rest.
 

bluepilot

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Angry_squirrel said:
bluepilot said:
I think you should drink some nice warm milk and try to get some sleep. No girl is worth this much stress and if you cannot trust her you certainly should not be dating her. I think you have too many things to sort out in your own mind before dating again.

Once again, try to get some sleep and good luck tomorrow.
But part of my point is that I should be able to trust her. She has't done anything wrong. I'm freaking out over what is probably nothing and I'm aware of that, but it doesn't make me feel any better about it.
But there is no "should", it is about what you can and can't do. If you can't trust her, even though she has done nothing wrong, then it might be a sign that you are not ready. This is nothing to be ashamed of and there is no harm in slowing down things a little.
 

Kryzantine

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Angry_squirrel said:
I fear I am basically at the other end of this story, and that's exactly why I might be able to help more. Actually, I had to look at some details and information to make sure you weren't the internet profile of this one guy I know. You're not, thank the bloody heavens, or this would have been a far more awkward post. You could still be, I don't know, maybe your profile lies, but I don't think I care either way.

You see, for the last 5 years, I've had quite a strong affection for this one girl, to the point where it literally messes with other relationships. Every other potential person I could have a relationship with, I look and compare and I can't bring myself to go against that one person. By the way, this girl knows about my affections already - she shares it, and we've been close friends for those 5 years. Actually, she is quite literally my longest-lasting friend as well. The closest I've come to identifying our relationship is like an older-brother-little-sister kind of thing, though she's more than capable of looking out for herself. There's love in there, but more on my side than on hers.

That said, we tried having an official relationship once and it didn't work out. She had some personal shit to deal with, I respected that and gave some distance, and then I had personal shit a year after that that sent me reeling and unable to do anything for a long while. Both of us went to the same, really intense school, so both of us were focused on that. Oh, we certainly some interesting bits when there was time for that, but for the most part, the two of us remained separate.

Anyway, long story short, about a month ago, she hooks up with a guy that she had met and known for 10 days. I already knew the guy, he had just been dumped by his prior girlfriend two months prior (though when I asked the ex about it, she said it had nothing to do with him, and it was her own personal problem), and so though I was one of the many to think that their relationship would not last (a month was the average bet), I was one of the few to question their intentions. So I did what I would do for any of my close friends, I warned my affection about the folly of a long-distance relationship (they will be about 800 miles apart in a month and stay that way for 2-3 months) and I warned the guy she was with about honesty and compassion. And then I left it at that. I kept tabs on them from a distance for a while, just to sate my own curiosity, but I didn't even try manipulating them. They just naturally broke up on their own - technically, they're still in a relationship, but they haven't even physically seen each other for two weeks, they won't physically see each other for a long, looong time (she's busy up until the day she leaves for college, either with family or with work; I'm lucky to live close enough that I can see her for a bit after her work, something her new BF doesn't seem to want to do). They're dying. They started off on little and they never built up on it. I see her last week and she says she didn't exactly stop thinking about me, and that it was screwing with her mind and her relationship.

So I guess you are in the situation that her BF is in, or was in early on, which is that you haven't seen your long-distance partner for a bit, in a relationship which consisted of about 10 days of buildup. Only in this case, you are fearful that she may not be into the relationship as much as you are, they she may have someone else on her mind. Someone like me in my own story.

Well, what can I tell you? In my experience, true love takes about one year to manifest itself. What you're doing right now with her is what the poker business considers "gambling" - striking it early and hoping it works out for you. You two may or may not be a match. The odds are actually very good that the two of you have a month, month and a half long infatuation with each other that ends with the both of you single again. The odds that the two of you are life long lovers... well, less so, to put it lightly. Of course, you're hoping you can beat those odds. You might, I've seen it happen. You might not, I've also seen that happen. Leaning towards the latter, only because of the 10 day thing. For your long term relationship, you'll know in about a month whether your current one will last or not.

But that's not the point. The point is that you are feeling anxious about this one girl and her not being in contact with you. Well, let me give you a boost - there are very few people like me in the world. If there is someone like me in this situation, you'd already know who they are before the relationship even started. If there is someone like me, you'd have already been threatened with it's-worse-than-you-think if you tried anything on her. So there's not somebody like me in this situation.

You want somebody to hang onto, somebody to act as a crutch. That this girl has ceased contact with you for a bit is making you go crazy because you had a crutch and now you don't. There's nothing else for you to lean on, nothing to occupy your mind. She has her festival, what do you have?

I would suggest working on a little something for the next time you meet, or the time after that. Something sweet. Something to indicate to her that you are willing to be with her for quite a while, and something which the working on will help calm your mind, what most people would call a hobby. To that end, I'll throw my own suggestion, because I've already done it for a friend and I have a different, even more badass idea for my affection. Have you ever made a rabbit out of duct tape? It took me about 6 hours of work with a friend, a large roll of duct tape, some spare newspaper to fluff up the belly, reference pictures from the internet, and a good helping of creative thinking. And that bunny was worth every second of its creation. My friend loved it. So did my affection, actually, she kind of loved it more, but it was meant for a different person.

The point is that if you're scared that she'll run off on you, and abandon you so early like the way you think she will, then do everything in your power to make sure that won't happen, to prove to her that you are worth more than she thinks. The fact is, this first month is crucial for you, and I'm saying just you. If you do nothing and stay put, your fears will only be realized. You have to put in the effort on the relationship front as much as she does, more if you're the one who wants it more than her. Even I understand this concerning my own affection. When she needs something, even if she doesn't say it, I provide it for her. That's the kind of thing that keeps relationships going.

Gah, I've ranted on long enough. I should probably be going to sleep soon.
 

Miggiwoo

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So much generalization! I mean if you have attachment issues, that's borderline personality disorder and you will probably need to be medicated. Even though this isn't the end of the world, that sort of diagnosis from an internet forum is just totally inappropriate.

There is a difference between attachment issues (being unable to form appropriate attachments) and fixation (where you obsess over thoughts that have little to no grounding in reality, which leads to anxiety). It seems to me that you are fixating on concerns about the actions and intentions of your partner, concerns which you yourself have claimed to be groundless.

Ultimately, I stand by what I said before, try to rationalize and release your thoughts, try to be present centered, and go see a psychologist. You would be amazed how much 6 sessions can do for anxiety related mental illness.

On a side note, being present centered will help you to relax. There are a few mindfulness routines you can do, a favorite of mine is to go to a park, close my eyes, and just really concentrate on the sounds around me. Flowing water, wind in trees, those sorts of things.
 

neonsword13-ops

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No other girl seems to be like me, menatlly.

I like to see a girl every now and again. Not the next day after. I need recuperation, it's how I was born. No other girl I have met is like that.

Sometimes I just can't stand girls. I don't UNDERSTAND them.
(Being 15 probably doesn't help either.)
 

IkeGreil29

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Get some sleep, and think with a clear head.
But other than that, I only know of one relationship that is stress free, and I'm not even sure, as both of them are close friends but I rarely ever talk to them about it. Sometimes she criticizes him, and he talks to me about it, because he almost always has a higher level of thinking where he tries to improve himself and whatnot. But other than that, I don't believe there are stress-free relationships.
 

zehydra

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I totally feel ya. It kind of describes my own relationship, except she wasn't a manipulator.

...Or was she? DUH DUH DUUUUHHHH

But yeah, that's something I've worried about myself, that if I got in a relationship, I wouldn't be able to control my own sense of worry.
 

Craorach

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Much of what makes people stressed in new relationships seems to be the expectations they have, based upon media. This is also what causes stress down the line, because as soon as that gut wrenching, heart pounding, physical reaction is gone people don't think they are in love anymore.

I love my wife, we've been together ten years. Loving her doesn't mean I adore every little thing she does, nor that she loves everything I do. Loving her doesn't mean there are not frustrations and disagreements. Any successful relationship is a constant compromise, where Us is more important than you or me.

Early in our relationship, I was alot like the OP.. jealous, paranoid, afraid because I'd been hurt before. Sooner or later, unless there is an actual good reason to be any of those things, you just need to learn to suck it up.. bite your lip, smile, and pretend whatever it is isn't bothering you.. because after awhile it won't any more. After awhile you realise that being suspicious and jealous all the time is only causing the person you love to be sad, as well as you. Sooner or later you realise, often, that you are also operating on a double standard. It's okay for me to be busy, but if she is she's ignoring me. It's okay for me to talk to girls, but if she talks to boys she might be cheating. After awhile, you realise how intensely stupid you sound.
 

TheLoneBeet

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Since it's really late and in an earlier post the OP said they was going to sleep I'm not going to bother adding to the pile of advice that's already been laid down, but I will answer the questions that were posted.
Angry_squirrel said:
How stressful do you find relationships?
Not very if at all. One of the first things I look for in a girl is whether or not she can make me happy. If talking to her or being with her doesn't do anything as far as chilling me out or making me smile; what's the point?
Angry_squirrel said:
How do you cope with the stress relationships bring?
Like I said: My relationships often don't bring stress. However, no relationship is complete without it's share of drama, so for those times that things get tough I go to:
-Games
-Music
-Friends

Not necessarily in that order.
Angry_squirrel said:
Do you think relationships tend to bring more hurt than happiness? If yes, why do you bother with them?
They can, but they shouldn't. If yours do(es) then you shouldn't be in that relationship. If it's a bit of a rough patch I'd say work through it, but if the hurt lasts more than a week; fuck it.
 

Astoria

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If a relationship is causing you stress you aren't in the right relationship. Either talk to your partner about why you're stressed or leave. I think people over complicate things, especially relationships. Even though me and my boyfriend fight every now and then I can't say I ever feel stressed and the good times are definitely worth the bad. You really should tell this girl that you're paranoid and see if there's something she can say to put your mind at ease.
 

infohippie

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neonsword13-ops said:
No other girl seems to be like me, menatlly.

I like to see a girl every now and again. Not the next day after. I need recuperation, it's how I was born. No other girl I have met is like that.

Sometimes I just can't stand girls. I don't UNDERSTAND them.
(Being 15 probably doesn't help either.)
Haha, I'm 35 and I still don't understand them. Women are nuts. That's why I've been single for the last two years, I'm tired of dealing with the crazy.
Okay, not quite all women are nuts, just the vast majority. The few I've ever met that seem sane and sensible, unfortunately, I'm just not attracted to.
 

SckizoBoy

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Angry_squirrel said:
I would not turn down therapy, but I simply cannot afford it at the moment.
The time or the money? Because if it's the latter, you live in the UK, get a referral via your GP. It may take a while, but you can get NHS based therapy that way.

OT:

I naturally don't find relationships stressful. Those girls/women I've dated have been good to me whether or not as a consequence of my being good to them. I suppose I'm lucky insomuch that while I do have some (read: a lot) of trust and emotional issues, my trust has never been broken.

As for when stressful times come, I take it by that you mean when you argue (about proper serious stuff i.e. cheating/major money issues etc.), I've dealt with them fairly well. Largely by actually talking. IRL I'm relatively taciturn, and when I'm with a girlfriend, I'm much more comfortable in silence than talking. I dislike shouting, but the number of times I've had to (all the while actually agreeing with my ex) makes me weep. Lacking the means to bulldoze a wall, we attempted to climb over it. However, too many falls and too high a final wall will let you guess what happened (as it weren't already clear from the word 'ex'). As a result, I find myself single, uncomprehending (or unaccepting, perhaps) of happy relationships and with enough emotional baggage to sink a container vessel.

And relationships have the potential to bring great hurt or great happiness, it's what the respective partners make of it and the effor they put it. Because if it's 'meant to be', they will one, withstand the shit that happens, two, not fear that which may break the relationship. I thought I was there, but it seems I demanded too much when I asked to be happy.
 

Rawne1980

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I love my relationship.

I've had quite a few in my time but can't say i've ever found them stressful. I am, however, pretty laid back and confident so i'm rarely bothered by things.

I've always trusted the lass i'm with and if anything happens to break that trust then the relationship ends and I move on. I've never found good reason to sit around and worry about things or cry over them.

When a relationship has ended I know that lass wasn't for me and try again.

I found my wife 7 years ago and so far it's been a really good relationship. I'm not naive enough to believe nothing will ever go wrong but so far nothing has.
 

Haagrum

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Hardly an expert or a wise old man, but will offer the following advice.

1. Relationships are hard. A fling or a friend with benefits, that's easy. You don't get anything near the same satisfaction, because it's nowhere near as much work. Nothing in this world that's worth having comes easily. That said, a relationship shouldn't feel like an obligation. If it does, you probably shouldn't be in it.

2. Get comfortable in your own skin. Jealousy, insecurity, still being hung up on an ex, or any other baggage WILL stuff up a relationship. Don't look for someone to fix you. Fix yourself, then worry about being any good with anyone else. Also, other people probably don't see through you the way you fear they do. Everyone has their own shit to deal with. If they care, they'll look past it if you open up. If they don't, they're not worth your time - at least, not as a potential partner.

3. Figure out what you want. Cliche, yes. Really damn hard to do, too. This doesn't have to be a ten-year plan, though. Figure out what'll get you through each day/week without stressing too much, then do it.

4. Be good to yourself. You're probably a lot better than you give yourself credit for, because otherwise, you wouldn't be worrying. If you're really worried, go talk to someone you trust, or even a counsellor. Then, if you can, go do something you really enjoy and which will help you avoid thinking about it.

Jeez, I'm turning into an old man... but hopefully that helped someone.

lithium.jelly said:
Okay, not quite all women are nuts, just the vast majority.
As I've often said... women are crazy, men are stupid, and if everyone just realised that and accepted it, things would be much easier.
 

Colour Scientist

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ms_sunlight said:
Why are you so anxious? Go and see your GP. Seriously.
Yeah this. You never actually mentioned anything any of the girls did to provoke your intense paranoia. If you're so clingy and distrustful that you drive girls away you really do need to see a therapist. Thinking you're in love with a girl after 17 days while not trusting her in any sense of the word isn't even close to healthy behaviour.