Hello! I really hope my answer can help you in some way.
Everyone is actually still growing and changing. Just because you've been avoiding this relationship for a while now doesn't mean it'll always be that way. If you're ready to let go, then you need to be brave and accept the consequences of letting go. If you're not ready to give up on this relationship and you're willing to work on it, there are actually many things you can do.
You can support each other in so many ways to give warmth and strength to each other in the relationship. It's totally normal to feel the way you do. We all have been hurt in previous relationships, especially in early relationships, and we all feel that relationships are not safe. But in fact, this is not the case. When you can work together to establish a sense of security in the relationship, you will become happier and happier.
1. Make a gratitude list and feel the warmth of your interactions with each other often!
For instance, when your partner pours you a cup of soothing hot brown sugar water when you're feeling under the weather, or when you're having a rough day and need a shoulder to lean on, or when it's your birthday and your partner goes above and beyond to make it a special day, or when you're feeling down and your partner is there to lift your spirits... And you can also create lots of warm, loving interactions for your partner, which will all be stored as beautiful memories in your relationship.
When you feel more care and love for each other, and when you want to avoid it, your hearts can gradually be melted by love. This allows you to communicate and interact more smoothly with each other, allowing the relationship and love to flow in a cycle, nourishing each other.
2. Be sure to communicate in a positive way and express your needs and vulnerabilities.
Christopher Monn said something really interesting in his book, Intimacy: A Bridge to the Soul. He said that the real motivation behind starting and maintaining an intimate relationship lies in our needs.
If you don't express your needs and vulnerabilities in the relationship, it can lead to superficial avoidance and arguments. It's important to be sincere and consistent in your expression so that your partner knows what you need and what you're afraid of. Even if he wants to help you, he might not know how to. You can encourage him to express his vulnerabilities and needs. When you can see his vulnerabilities and needs and give him the care he specifically needs, he'll feel more and more secure in the relationship. When expressing, you can follow this model: express your true feelings, needs, and specific requests to the other person without judging or blaming.
This kind of open and honest communication will not only help you both feel less stressed and more supported, but it will also make you feel needed and loved. Regular positive chats will also help your relationship grow and bring you closer together.
3. If you're open to it, you can absolutely combine individual counseling with marriage counseling!
The great news is that you can actually get individual counseling and marriage counseling at the same time, and you might even see better results!
The wonderful American marriage psychologist Fosdick once said something really wise: "There are no failed marriages in the world, only failed people. All marital problems reflect the nature of people."
Professor Song Jiayu, the chief expert of the China Marriage Counseling and Rescue Network and a well-known expert on marital psychology in China, wrote in his book Pulsing Marriage that "almost all marital problems are related to a person's character." He's absolutely right! Relatively healthy marital and family relationships often involve spouses with relatively good character traits or relatively healthy personality qualities. Marriages with problems often involve spouses with at least one party having shortcomings or problems in some aspect of their personality or character. These problems can affect their marital and family relationships, and they can affect us all in different ways.
The wonderful marriage psychologists provide such helpful explanations of marital problems. They really know how to pinpoint the crux, nature, and causes of these problems. And they offer great advice on how to handle family relationships and resolve family conflicts.
When we solve our own marital problems and family conflicts, it's also a great idea to take a look at our own shortcomings from the personality level. That's the only way we can ultimately solve marital problems! It's a kind of dialectical relationship between internal and external factors, as well as a cause-and-effect relationship between cause and result.
I truly believe that when you can improve your respective personalities through individual counseling and adjust your interaction patterns through marriage counseling, you will ultimately reap the rewards of stable happiness.
I hope this is helpful for you! Wishing you all the best!
Comments
I can really empathize with the complexity and pain you're experiencing in this relationship. It sounds like both of you are struggling with deepseated fears that make it hard to connect. Maybe taking a step back and focusing on selfhealing could be beneficial for both of you. Sometimes, giving each other space can help clarify what you truly want and need.
This is such a difficult situation because it seems like you both have strong feelings but also significant barriers to a healthy relationship. Have you considered seeking professional guidance? A therapist who specializes in attachment issues might offer strategies to address your concerns and his anxiety. It's important to approach this with care for both of your wellbeing.
It's clear that you care deeply about him and want to make things work, but it's equally important to consider your own emotional health. Perhaps setting boundaries and prioritizing your needs could provide some clarity. If you do decide to reach out, maybe expressing your willingness to support him while also being honest about your limits could be a way forward.
The uncertainty must be incredibly tough on you. It feels like you're caught between wanting to help him and protecting yourself from further hurt. If you choose to contact him, perhaps a gentle message acknowledging the challenges you both face and offering understanding without pressure could be a compassionate approach. This might give him the space to respond when he's ready, without feeling overwhelmed.