What is Relationship Anxiety?
For some people, relationships can come very easily and they don’t have to deal with any anxieties or fears about commitment. For others, relationships are a challenging problem that they can’t seem to overcome. Someone who struggles with finding and staying in relationships can be said to have relationship anxiety or a commitment phobia.
Even though relationship anxiety is not a diagnosed mental health problem, it is a very real issue that can cause problems in people’s personal lives. People who have commitment issues have problems staying in relationships for the long term because their feelings about the experience of love can be more intense than others. Their feelings while in the relationship can drive anxiety that can build up causing issues with their expectation of commitment.
People with this type of phobia, deep down want to have a long term commitment but have built up a lot of fear about it which causes them to leave relationships. They may develop anxiety because their feelings of excitement about the person become misinterpreted as panic or negative anxiousness. They may also have trouble resolving their need for intimacy combined with their conflicting desire for freedom and individuality.
Those struggling with relationship anxiety may fear a relationship ending abruptly, be afraid that they are not in the right relationship or they may have trust issues from the past that prevent them from feeling secure with the other person. These fears can cause them to only stay in relationships for a few months before ending it. The only way to move past relationship anxiety is to confront these fears and work through them before ending a relationship.
What are some signs of relationship anxiety?
Relationships can bring immense joy and fulfillment into our lives, but they can also be a source of anxiety and uncertainty. Relationship anxiety is a common experience that can affect individuals in various ways. It is important to recognize the signs of relationship anxiety to address and manage it effectively. Here are some 15 signs that may indicate relationship anxiety and provide insights into how to cope with these feelings.
- Constant Worry and Overthinking
- Fear of Abandonment
- Excessive Need for Reassurance
- Difficulty Trusting
- Fear of Intimacy
- Insecurity and Jealousy
- Fear of Commitment
- Avoidance of Vulnerability
- Overanalyzing Interactions
- Hyperfocus on Flaws and Imperfections
- Overreacting to Minor Issues
- Sabotaging the Relationship
- Physical Symptoms of Anxiety
- Obsessive Thoughts and Compulsive Behaviors
- Feeling Trapped or Suffocated
Seeking Professional Help
Talking with a professional about relationship fears and finding strategies to confront a fear of commitment can make it possible for a person to stay in a long term relationship and find ways to cope with their feelings.