How does low self-esteem affect romantic relationships?

In a relationship, low self-esteem can lead to jealousy and insecurity. You may doubt your value to your relationship and assume it is a coincidence that they like you. As a result, it's natural for people with poor self-esteem to worry that their spouse is attracted to someone else or that they'll quit the relationship.

There are two ways that low self-esteem can affect a relationship: directly and indirectly. Directly, it can impact how you interact with your partner by causing you to act in ways that would not be advisable if you had better self-esteem. For example, if you believe that you're not attractive enough for your spouse to want to be with you, then you might try too hard to impress them with your good looks. This could cause them to feel uncomfortable around you and eventually leave you.

Indirectly, low self-esteem can influence a relationship without you even knowing it. If you think that you're not attractive enough for your spouse to find you desirable, then it's likely that you won't pay attention to what they want or need from you. You won't make an effort to get to know them better because you don't think there's any point. They will also not know how to make you feel comfortable so that you will trust them enough to open up to them. Over time, this lack of communication will cause problems between you.

Does low self-esteem affect relationships?

According to research, your self-esteem effects your relationship happiness as much as your partner's. Self-defeating ideas and anxieties might have an impact on how you interact with your relationship. Low self-esteem, according to the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, might alter your perspective of your relationship. You may believe that your mate does not love or respect you enough for you to seek a long-term commitment.

Here are some other ways that low self-esteem can effect relationships:

You may take your partner's comments about your appearance too seriously. You might think that when they say they don't like your hair color or dress style that they don't care about you anymore.

You may be afraid to tell your partner what you want because you don't think they'll listen or care. As a result, you might avoid discussing important issues in your relationship.

You may try to control everything in your relationship - the money, the housework, the kids - in order to show your partner that you're capable of taking care of them. However, if you feel like you're not good enough, then this type of behavior is only going to hurt your feelings and drive your mate away.

So, yes, low self-esteem can affect relationships. This feeling goes hand in hand with anxiety and depression, which we'll discuss next time.

How do I get rid of my low self-esteem and jealousy?

In order to counteract poor self-esteem,

1. Remind yourself of things you do well.
2. Practice self-compassion (in other words, treat yourself the way you would a close friend).
3. Practice daily affirmations or exchange them with your partner.
4. Remind yourself of the things you value in your partner and relationship.

Jealousy, like envy, arises from thoughts of inadequacy, albeit they are generally more conscious. Jealousy, on the other hand, is the fear of losing what we have, and envy is the desire to own what someone else has. Her insecurity made her envious....

Does low self-esteem lead to cheating?

Low self-esteem can lead to people becoming too reliant on the attention of others—and in certain situations, the attention of just one person is insufficient. It may also make someone feel insecure in their own relationship, leading them to cheat as a means of rejecting rather than being rejected.

Why do some people doubt their partner’s feelings?

According to some earlier studies, persons with lower self-esteem are more prone to mistrust their partner's sentiments when they are experiencing self-doubt. This can occur as a result of projection. Projection is the unconscious process by which we assume that others are thinking or feeling what we are thinking or feeling.

For example, if I feel insecure about myself, then I may believe that you don't love me anymore even though this is not something that you have told me. My belief comes from my own feelings of insecurity. If I felt confident about myself, then I wouldn't need to project my fears onto you.

Also, certain types of personality disorders involve a preoccupation with one's own feelings and an inability to trust others. These include obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and paranoid personality disorder (PD). Persons with these disorders may experience anxiety when their partners show signs of rejection or indifference. Such symptoms could cause them to misinterpret their partners' actions as intentional acts of abandonment.

Finally, depression can make us distrustful of other people's intentions. This is because depressed people often feel empty inside; therefore, any action on the part of someone else might be seen as a rejection proofing their own desire to be alone.

About Article Author

John Pierce

John is a dating coach who helps people with their romantic lives. His coaching style is gentle and supportive, not confrontational or judgmental. He sees himself as someone to help his clients make the right decisions for themselves, but ultimately they are in charge of their own lives.