Hello, question asker! I'm Jiang 61.
First of all, thanks for trusting us and being willing to tell us about the confusion you're experiencing so that we can help you find an answer. It seems like you're asking yourself two main questions: "Is there a sensitivity-and-fragile-heart-1886.html" target="_blank">communication barrier, or am I just too sensitive?"
"After reading your introduction and learning about your situation, let's talk about what we can do together."
1. Introduction
1. Relationship
Compliant
You say, "We've been married for two years, and we don't have any children yet. My husband is a model husband! At least, that's what other people think. He takes care of the family, doesn't do any recreational activities, goes home every day after work, cooks a good meal when he's home for me, and cares about what I want to eat. He's very obedient and thrifty, and won't eat anything for himself. He'll buy it for me. Before, I thought he was really a good person, but then there were a lot of arguments, basically a small argument every three days and a big argument every half month."
Before, your husband was a great guy. He was nice to you, took good care of you, and was always obedient when you wanted to eat something. He was thrifty with himself and would buy things for you.
Now there are arguments every three days or so, and a major quarrel every half month.
The next thing we need to talk about is the arguments.
You said, "Most of the reasons for arguing are because I resent him saying that he thinks certain things are facts, telling me so, and saying that it's for my own good. He thinks that I never consider his feelings. Because of the holidays back home, he works rotating shifts with no holidays, working two days on and two days off. He wants to take some time off during the holidays to go back home and see his parents, but I don't want to go back. When I first mentioned it, I didn't want to go back. Then I thought of two options and discussed them with him. The first was that we both drove back, and he took a day off work. He said that I didn't consider his feelings. The second was that I took the high-speed train back by myself, and he said that I didn't consider safety, because during pregnancy, a one-hour trip on the high-speed train is not unsafe. Then he said that I didn't consider the cost."
The reason you argue is that you can't accept the feedback she gives you. He thinks he's looking out for you, but his words imply criticism.
You tried to understand what he meant and to explain your own solutions, but instead of gaining his understanding, you were accused.
? Feelings
You say, "When he said that I didn't consider him, I started to doubt myself. Am I hurting him? He cooks and does the housework every day, but I never think about his feelings when I'm doing things. When I express my feelings, he says that what he said are the facts and that he's doing it for my own good. I try to find a solution and think about things from his perspective, but it always seems like I don't care about his feelings. Do all these things I do make me feel like I'm in the wrong? It seems like it always does. I lose control of my emotions and become unreasonable. He's being submissive, and you're both tired. He hasn't done anything to hurt me, but he just said some facts, and I started to lose my temper and became deliberately quarrelsome."
Mr. Accuses You of Being Self-Critical. When You Argue, You're Also Willing to Think from His Perspective. However, The Result Isn't What You Want, and He Thinks You Can't Understand Him, So He's Always Apologizing.
His misunderstanding makes you feel frustrated, angry, and upset.
2. Care
?
You say, "I care about what he says. Whatever he says, I try to avoid doing next time. Money is tight, and I don't complain. My idea is to spend a little if I have money, and spend less if I don't. But my husband will criticize my spending. I usually comfort myself that he's just harsh, but sometimes I listen to my heart. After I buy something, he'll scold me, saying that I don't know his pressure and don't understand him. I don't know what to do to understand him anymore."
You do care about what others think of you and you will change your behavior based on what others say. But you also have your own ideas, and when you do things according to your own ideas, you will be unfairly accused by your husband.
Particularly when it comes to money, you're unsure how to understand his perspective.
Your husband is quick to criticize.
You said, "I also go to work every day, and I still go to work even though I'm not feeling well during my pregnancy, and I haven't taken any leave. But it seems like I'm the one who benefits from all this. He does everything for me. I enjoy his hard work, and I'm the one not contributing. No matter how I try to communicate with him, it's not good enough. He always thinks I'm being picky and stubborn. When I try to reason with him, it becomes my fault again. I'm using his faults against him. He's always been tolerant of me..."
You went to work when you were sick with the flu during your pregnancy, and your husband doesn't think you did it to reduce the financial pressure on the family. He did everything for you.
When you share your thoughts, your husband thinks you're being critical, angry, and intolerant of him. But he's able to tolerate you.
3️⃣. Self-doubt
You say, "I really doubt myself now. Am I really that bad? Am I that sensitive?"
You can't understand why your husband is making these accusations, and you start to doubt yourself. Are you really at fault for everything? Are you overly sensitive to your husband's words?
2. What causes arguments?
1️⃣, listening
Listen up!
Listening is an art form in itself. It's not just about hearing with your ears. It's about actively listening to what the other person is saying and understanding their emotions and thoughts.
?? Differences in understanding
From what I can see in the question, it's clear that the questioner and her husband haven't listened carefully to each other. This has led to misunderstandings and arguments.
2️⃣ Thinking perspective
Thinking perspectives are the different ways people view things, analyze problems, and solve problems. Everyone thinks differently due to gender, cultural background, knowledge, and experience.
Thinking perspectives are the different ways people view things, analyze problems, and solve problems. Everyone thinks differently because of gender, cultural background, knowledge, and experience.
Personal perspective
After reading the original poster's introduction, I get the sense that you're emphasizing your ability to consider the other person's perspective because you're all coming at it from your own angle. This makes it difficult for you to fully grasp what the other person is trying to convey.
For instance, if your husband doesn't want you to go with him to visit his family during the holidays, he'd probably rather tell you, "You're pregnant, and the trip will be long and tiring, which isn't good for you or the baby." He might also mention the cost, which is a factor.
You still think it's best to save a little where we can.
You know that he doesn't want you to go because he's in a hurry. You've suggested two solutions, but he's rejected them both because they're expensive and he doesn't understand what he's getting into.
Your understanding is based on your own perspective, so you argue because you think differently.
3️⃣, Personality reasons
Given that you have thoughts and emotions after being constantly misunderstood, I think it's fair to say that your personality is a factor. I suspect you are a people pleaser with a melancholic personality.
People with a pleasing personality
A "pleaser" is someone who focuses on pleasing others without much thought of their own feelings. It's not a healthy way to be. The idea is that others are more important than you are. You only feel safe and loved if you make others feel comfortable.
You pay a lot of attention to what your husband is saying, what he cares about, and his opinion of you, while ignoring your true feelings. When you're not understood, you feel sad and angry.
People with a melancholic personality
People with a melancholic personality tend to have the following characteristics:
Characteristics: thoughtful, highly sensitive, idealistic, and in pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty.
On the plus side, you're sensitive, loyal, reliable, talented, and insightful.
On the downside, you can come across as stubborn, indecisive, self-centered, pessimistic, and passive.
When you interact with others, you are sensitive to what others say, only grasp the obvious meaning and hold on to it, unable to see the big picture. This gives your husband the impression that you are self-centered, and the misunderstanding deepens, leading to arguments. This is caused by your personality.
When you interact with others, you tend to be sensitive to what others say, only grasping the obvious meaning and holding on to it, unable to see the big picture. This gives your husband the impression that you are self-centered, and the misunderstanding deepens, leading to arguments. This is caused by your personality.
3. What to do
Firstly, empathy.
Empathy
Empathy is a way of communicating that puts you in the other person's shoes, helps you understand their inner feelings, and then shares that understanding with them.
It's also about understanding others.
When we're talking about facts, it's important to use empathy to put ourselves in the other person's shoes and think about why Mr. X is expressing himself this way at this time, in this place. We need to put ourselves in Mr. X's shoes and try to understand and empathize with his thoughts. We can confirm that we've understood correctly so that we can avoid misunderstandings in expression and understanding that lead to arguments.
2. Effective Communication
Effective communication
Communication is basically the exchange of information. It's the whole process of sharing a message with someone and hoping for a certain response. If you get what you want back, you've had effective communication.
Communication includes both verbal and nonverbal messages, with the nonverbal part often being more important than the verbal part. Effective communication is really important when it comes to dealing with interpersonal relationships and complex social relationships, such as family intimacy, parent-child relationships, and friendships.
Here are the steps to effective communication:
There are four steps to effective communication:
Step 1: Talk about your feelings, not your emotions.
The second step is to express what you want, not what you don't want. Say you're angry, not that you're angry.
Step 3: State your needs, not complaints. Don't let the other person guess what you want.
Step 4: Focus on where you want to go, not on what's holding you back. Look at the end result, not just the obstacle in your way.
We argue now because we haven't yet learned how to communicate effectively. Once you use effective communication, you'll understand each other better, express your feelings in a friendly way, and also state your needs and expectations. Once Mr. Right understands what you need, he'll give you the response you're looking for. You can also express your thoughts on the matter.
3️⃣, Emotion management
Good emotional management is a key skill for managing family intimacy, parent-child relationships, and interpersonal relationships. Emotional management is:
It's important to recognize your emotions.
This is the first step in managing your emotions. When you have an emotion, recognize what it is, such as anxiety, anger, sadness, etc.
It's okay to accept the emotion.
Healthy emotions are in line with the situation. When your feelings match what's going on around you, you can tell yourself, "This is normal." That's accepting your emotions.
This way of thinking will help you feel less stressed and more relaxed.
Sharing your feelings
Emotional expression is about sharing your own feelings. It's usually done by saying "I" and using phrases like "I feel...", "my feelings are...".
How to cultivate emotions
Cultivating and practicing emotion management is also key. Here are some ways to do that:
1) Living a regular life will also help keep your emotions in check.
2) Find something you enjoy doing and use it to boost your mood. Love yourself and love life, and appreciate the beauty around you.
3) Look after others and care for them. Helping others is the best feeling, and it's great to help people help themselves.
4) Connecting with nature and taking in the essence of heaven and earth opens up the heart and soothes and stabilizes emotions.
5) Spend time with people who are emotionally stable to help keep your emotions in check.
Questioner, there's no major conflict between us and my husband. We just need to communicate effectively, listen to each other, empathize with each other's true feelings and the messages they're conveying. At the same time, if we can detect emotions in time, accept them, express them, and manage our emotions well during communication, we'll be able to understand each other, avoid misunderstandings, achieve your ideas, and achieve your goals.
Your relationship will also become stronger.
I wish the original poster all the best for the future!
Comments
I can see why you're feeling so conflicted and hurt. It sounds like you're both trying but maybe not on the same page. Communication is so key in a relationship, and it seems like there's a disconnect there. I think it might help if you both sit down and really talk about how you're feeling, without any interruptions or distractions. Sometimes having a neutral third party, like a counselor, can also make a big difference.
It's clear that your husband cares deeply about you and wants to protect you, especially now that you're pregnant. But his overprotectiveness might be coming across as controlling or not trusting your judgment. Maybe he could try to listen more to your concerns and reasons for wanting to do things, rather than immediately jumping to what he thinks is best. It's important for both of you to feel heard and understood.
You're both working hard and making sacrifices, yet it feels like neither of you are getting the appreciation you deserve. It must be exhausting to always feel like you're falling short in someone's eyes. Perhaps setting aside time regularly to discuss your feelings and needs can help prevent these arguments from escalating. Acknowledging each other's efforts and expressing gratitude might also strengthen your bond.
Your husband's focus on finances shows he's thinking about the future, but it seems like it's causing stress between you two. Maybe you could work together to create a budget that makes both of you comfortable. This way, you can still enjoy life while being mindful of your financial situation. Openly discussing your spending habits and finding a middle ground might ease some of the tension.
It's tough when you feel like everything you do is wrong, and it's natural to doubt yourself in such situations. But remember, it takes two to tango. You're not alone in this; it's a partnership. Try to remind yourself of the positive aspects of your relationship and the love you share. Maybe suggest a date night or a quiet evening at home to reconnect and remember why you fell in love in the first place.