Anxiety’s Effects on Relationships

By April Lyons MA, LPC

Being in a relationship can be fun and exciting. But, relationships can also make you question a lot of things. You could be worried about plans getting canceled, afraid your partner will lose interest in you, and that you will break up. It is alright to have worries once in a while that you and your partner could break up. It just means that you really care about your partner enough to want to stay in the relationship. But if you are struggling with anxiety, a relationship can add a new layer.

Relationship anxiety is when you experience more times of excessive worrying about the relationship than actually enjoying it. You could be really scared that the relationship will end as soon as it starts. Out of fear, you may even go so far as to end the relationship.

To avoid doing something you will regret, here is how anxiety can affect your relationship.

Excessive Reassurance

It is easy in a relationship to have an emotional dependence on someone. You start to rely on them to tell you that you look nice and any other good traits.

When you have anxiety, you could take everything your partner does and turn it the wrong way. Maybe you got a new outfit that your partner did not compliment you on, making you fear they do not find you attractive. You could think that if your partner does not ask you about your day, it means they do not care. Without your partner’s reassurance, your whole world can feel off-balanced.

Refusing to Express Yourself

Your fear of rejection or that your relationship will end may cause you to silence yourself. You do not want to express your opinions or feelings to your partner for fear any differences can separate you.

Things may appear to be going well in your relationship because you hardly have any arguments. On the other hand, this is because you make absolutely sure that there is none. You do not want to confront your partner if anything bothers you for fear of a fight. But if you are holding back your thoughts, this causes you to have a lower satisfaction in your relationship.

Second-Guessing Your Partner

If you are feeling insecure in your relationship, this can mean you do not trust your partner. Your partner could be texting someone and does not feel like answering you when you ask who they are talking to. You could also constantly ask your partner where they are going and why they are gone for so long.

Worrying About Compatibility

It is a common misconception that two people in a relationship need to have everything in common. Having relationship anxiety will put you in a panic if you have one difference of opinion or different tastes.

For example, your partner may prefer to listen to a different music genre than you or prefer a partying lifestyle compared to your simple lifestyle. If you realize there are any differences between the two of you, you may worry it is only a matter of time before you break up.

If you are struggling with relationship anxiety, a therapist can help ease your worries about your partner and learn how to enjoy the relationship. If you are looking for a therapist, please contact us for a free consultation. We are always here to help.

Learn more about Anxiety Therapy in Colorado. Serving Boulder, Longmont, Denver.