It’s all too easy to make mistakes when embarking on a new relationship, particularly if you tend to get anxious, when dating can send your stress levels sky high. And this can set back a new relationship before it’s had time to get off the ground.
The good news is that there are a few relatively simple steps you can take to avoid tension-related slip-ups in your budding relationship. Here are four ways you can help to take the stress out of dating…
Take it one step at a time
Entering into a new relationship can be scary, and you may experience anxiety over the prospect of future commitment and responsibilities. Don’t get ahead of yourself. Slow down and enjoy the moment. The time to think about long-term obligations is once your relationship has developed into a far more serious stage, and by then the two of you will be able to deal with any anxiety issues together, as a team.
Understand your own trust issues
Stress can sometimes make it seem that your life is spiraling out of control, and this can cause insecurity leading to trust issues. You can avoid overstepping the privacy boundary by resisting the temptation to constantly call or text the new person in your life to check on what they’re up to. Realize it’s your own anxiety – not the other person’s behavior – that’s triggering your trust issues.
Pinpoint the source of your stress
The source of your feelings of anxiety may actually originate from outside your new relationship, from factors such work or financial issues. If you can minimize these problems to a manageable level, they won’t impact so much on your private life, including relationships. If there’s little you can do at the moment about reducing anxiety outside your relationship, make it clear to your dating partner that you’re willing to work on the problem in the long-term because they’re important to you.
Understand your partner’s trust issues
If you’re dating someone with trust issues, bear in mind it probably has little to do with you. Your dating partner may have had these problems long before you came along, possibly arising from bad experiences in previous relationships or even issues during childhood. Instead of blaming yourself, approach your partner in a non-judgmental way. Tell them you’re worried they’re unhappy, and you want to make sure your relationship is still on track.
Relationship problems that stress can cause
Getting stressed makes life – including relationships – more difficult than it needs to be. Anxiety can blur the line between what’s worth worrying about in a relationship and what isn’t, and this can result in insecurity, misunderstandings and arguments.
Dealing with anxiety and stress can be difficult, though, and that’s why may people seek professional counseling. If you keep in mind that anxiety may be coloring how you see things in a budding relationship, you’ll be in a better position to start moving in a healthier direction and take the stress out of your dating experience.
