Romantic relationships can be wonderful, however, sometimes jealousy can appear and cause great tension in the couple. If you are in a relationship with a jealous person, it is natural to wonder if that attitude can change and if there is hope for overcoming the challenges that come with it. First of all, it is essential to understand the underlying causes of jealousy. Jealousy can arise due to personal insecurity, past experiences of betrayal or abandonment, low self-esteem, or trust issues. Identifying these causes and working on them is essential to achieve lasting change.
Can a jealous person change? In this Psychology-Online article, we will explore the question of whether a jealous person can change, what goes through the mind of a jealous person and some very useful tips to help a jealous and distrustful person.
Can jealous people change?
Although it is not an easy task, with commitment and adequate conscious effort on your part it is possible for a jealous person to change. Awareness, professional help, open communication and mutual commitment are very positive elements in the change process. With time, patience, and working together, jealous people can change and build stronger, more satisfying relationships.
The first step to change jealousy is awareness. The jealous person must recognize and accept that their behavior is harmful to both themselves and their relationship. This requires a dose of humility and a willingness to explore your own insecurities and fears.
On the other hand, it is essential to encourage open and honest communication in the relationship and express your feelings and concerns in a constructive way. This implies set clear boundaries and realistic expectations in the relationship. The patience and empathy They are other key aspects during the change process, as well as the motivation and commitment of the jealous person. If both are willing to work on themselves and the relationship, it is possible to overcome jealousy and build a healthier relationship based on mutual trust.
What goes through the mind of a jealous person
The mind of a jealous person is cluttered with certain thoughts and intense emotions that can affect their emotional well-being and the dynamics of their relationship. Some of the ideas that usually go through the mind of a jealous person are:
- Insecurity: Jealous people often experience deep anxiety in themselves and in the relationship. They are afraid of losing their partner, they believe they are not good enough or worthy of love, and they may constantly compare themselves to other people.
- Fear of abandonment: The fear of being abandoned is a recurring worry in the mind of a jealous person. They often imagine scenarios in which their partner leaves them for someone more attractive or interesting, which generates anxiety and mistrust.
- Distrust: Distrust is a key characteristic of the jealous mindset. The person may interpret innocent situations as evidence of infidelity or betrayal, even in the absence of concrete evidence. This leads to the creation of negative thoughts and constant monitoring of your partner’s actions and activities.
- Obsession and rumination: Obsessive thoughts and images are very common in the mind of a jealous person, who spend hours analyzing past situations, looking for signs of deception or imagining negative future scenarios. This constant rumination can generate stress and emotional discomfort.
- Low self-esteem: The jealous person often has a negative perception of themselves. They may feel inadequate or not valuable enough, which reinforces their fear of being abandoned or replaced. This low self-esteem can fuel jealousy and make it difficult to develop a safe and healthy relationship.
In this article we explain the main ones.
How to help a jealous and distrustful person
If you have a partner who is jealous and distrustful, it is important to offer support and understanding to help them overcome these negative emotions and build a healthier relationship. Here are some tips to help a jealous and distrustful person:
- Open communication: Establish a safe and open environment for your partner to express their concerns and fears. Encourage him/her to share his/her feelings with you and listen carefully without judging. Open communication certainly promotes trust and can help allay unfounded fears.
- Strengthens trust: Providing continued displays of love, respect and loyalty to your partner, keeping your promises and demonstrating consistency in your actions can help strengthen trust in the relationship. Likewise, it is important that you establish clear limits and comply with them to build mutual trust.
- Transparency: be transparent in your actions and activities. Sharing information about your plans, friendships, and commitments openly and honestly can help reduce uncertainty and unfounded fears.
- Empathy and understanding: Try to understand your partner’s insecurities and fears. Putting yourself in their shoes and showing empathy can help them feel understood and emotionally supported.
- Promote self-esteem: help your partner work on her self-esteem and self-esteem by praising her qualities and achievements and encouraging her to develop activities that strengthen her self-confidence.
- Couples or individual therapy: Consider seeking professional help through couples or individual therapy. A trained therapist can provide specific tools and techniques to address jealousy and mistrust in the relationship, as well as help work on the underlying causes.
Remember that overcoming jealousy does not happen overnight and there may be setbacks along the way. Therefore, it is important for the couple to support and encourage the jealous person, providing security and showing that they can trust each other. If you need it, in the following article you will find more information about .
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Canto, JM, Leiva, PG, & Gómez-Jacinto, L. (2009). Jealousy and emotion: how partners react to infidelity Jealousy and emotions: Factors of the couple’s relationship in the reaction to infidelity. Athenea Digital, 15, 39-55. Retrieved from: https://doaj.org/article/c109e64b7b5f42d992580b3c8400c1f4
- Incio, C., Fernández, B., González-Moreno, J., & Cantero, M. (2021). COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION IN CELOTIPIA: A CLINICAL CASE. Retrieved from: https://www.ojs.casosclinicosensaludmental.es/index.php/RCCSM/article/view/66