What Is Jealousy? Here’s How You Can Handle It With Your Partner

Jealousy is a bad counselor in relationships. It is a response that produces feelings of suspicion, distrust, and fear towards the other person. When these feelings appear in a relationship, they cause fear of the other person’s reactions and difficulties in communication, but all of this can be overcome.

When you start a relationship with your partner, you establish rules that are not stated, but are understood; among them, is that each person will play an important role in the growth of the relationship. So, you think that the rules have already been stated and should not be repeated, but that is not the case.

A relationship must be formed on aspects such as sincerity, trust, and love; being honest with each other; trust in everything you undertake; realizing that this person is part of a life project that you are forging together. And finally, the love that has grown as you have gotten to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. It is important to note that every day we learn more aspects that we did not know about the couple.

We have pleasant moments, but also unpleasant ones. We know each other’s tastes and dislikes. We share all the important details about each other.

Regarding what has happened in your relationship, I would recommend that you sit down and talk and realize the importance of having each other and that what has happened should not break your relationship if you are willing to compromise from each other’s position. As your relationship grows and you find the way, you will be able to overcome all the difficulties that come your way.

If you want to face them individually, I advise you the following:

Take three deep breaths and then think about what you are feeling at that moment.
Look within yourself for your strengths (your values and emotions).
Talk to your partner about how you felt after this little exercise.

When working in pairs:

Strategies and resources are provided to improve communication, conflict resolution, affectivity, and other resources that make the relationship healthy and gain strength and security. In other words, the relationship can be strengthened if conscious, responsible, and committed work is done.

If you feel that these tips are helpful, but you need something more, you can seek professional advice and work as a couple. I wish you much success in building your new life.

*Professor at the Department of Psychology of the Faculty of Humanities, Rafael Landívar University.