tchest77 1 Posted November 22, 2018 This is a long one, not sure if I'm being fair or if she is for real. BACKGROUND: I am a 41yr old male w/ my 40yr old fiancee in a 3yr relationship, engaged approx 2yrs ago, and live together. I don't accept her negative reactions, I am nice to her, she does have an anxiety disorder, and these cause fights. Over time, she has dramatically improved a lot, she does therapy and we talk, but fights occur maybe once every couple of weeks now. I've posted before, very helpful, and now got to the underlying issue but need advice. THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM: She is scared to disappoint people, she becomes passive and submissive to avoid not being liked. Therefore, she doesn't voice her opinion often or when she does she sounds timid, or sometimes comes off as rude. She says it's not that she is standing up for her self, but rather, she is so scared in these moments, with all people, that she is scared that they aren't going to like her or think shes a bad person, so she reacts back negatively out of this fear. On a side note, she is always asking me in a timid way, if it's ok for her to go do something, always apologizing for things that really aren't big deals; as if hoping to avoid me being upset with her in any way. This has been identified as being caused from her strict upbringing, always having to please her parents and be perfect. 3 BASIC EXAMPLES (out of 100's) OF THESE SITUATIONS: 1. At night, she got mad that her employee wasn't showing up to work the next day, so she stormed off into the bedroom to go to sleep. I told her that this shouldn't get under her skin so easily, and she argued why I was wrong. In the end she said she argued w me cause she thought that I thought she was a bad person. 2. I brought to her attention that I think she's scared when I ask her to do something, like not leaving the fridge open for 5 minutes, and she will argues back. She said she argues back because she thinks I don't like her. 3. I noticed a liquid spill on the couch and said what is that. She had a mean tone back because I made her feel bad and she didn't feel like she was a good person. NOW WHAT?: I want to work with her and be here for her, but I can't understand her rationale for her disrespect/tone sometimes, and know there may be no rationale due to her anxiety disorder. She says she acts this way out of fear of not being liked, I can put my self in that place but it doesn't entirely make sense; I know I don't have an anxiety disorder, so not sure if I'm being fair. I can't grasp this though, if she wants to be liked then why respond in a way that people will not like? Is she confused or making this up, or using this as a scapegoat? I just have a hard time seeing that if you want to be liked, then why argue and fight most of the time, instead of trying to work it out? Has anyone experienced similar situations? She says shes just scared and wishes she wasn't like that, cries, and thinks she is weird. I do want this to work as I do love her; there has been tremendous growth but I honestly don't know if I can live like this and am trying to figure it out. Any thoughts, comments, advice would be most appreciated. Thanks again! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bterflymom 155 Posted November 22, 2018 I think she has low self esteem and needs a counselor to help her handle herself better. Nobody is wrong or right all of the time and her little hissy fits are not productive. You can't be her caretaker forever unless you choose to do so but I think she needs professional help. I would not get married until you have some PRE marital counseling and I wish you luck. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MsLLL 413 Posted November 22, 2018 It's common in anxiety when it's untreated. I was like that. I felt so different from my normal self; I was so wary about all kinds of things, it was very hard. It was not my regular personality, I can assure you. Especially after panic attacks. You are so insecure inside ( I didn't have low self esteem prior) but it sucks up so much energy we kind of plead with ourselves and surroundings in the hope of relief. This might not make sense to right now to you because it hardly makes sense to me but I remember how my brain reacted different to regular situations whereas prior I would not have batted an eye. It all comes down to love. I think you love and care for her, that's why you are here. I think you guys have a great shot at love because you care and want her to get better. But you cannot get her better, it's impossible. Support her to get into counseling and you can talk to your own counselor for a few sessions to learn how to live with someone who has this disorder. It's not the end of the world. I disagree with the term hissy fits if someone is an anxiety sufferer they don't always think rational. Also, I would be wary about pre-marital counseling but rather get counseling for the real problem; a disease. My best Wishes to the both of you and I applaud you for trying to be helpful to her. I'm sure she appreciates you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites