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Notebookb6Participant
Dear anita,
Agreed that its unfair to burden him with my AAS, still looking for a way to get it under control too. Thanks for the book recommendation, I’ll try out some of their e-books.
I actually had a talk with him yesterday to address my recent insecurities, he explained the decline in interaction is due to him assuming we both needs some quiet time to work on own projects, and he will always prioritise me whenever I needs him. I felt much better after the talk. Communication is so important for a LDR and I’m glad he is always being supportive.
Regarding parenting style from my childhood, I cant tell if my parents has inconsistent parenting style. What I can remember is I grew up with different caretaker as both parents were having their full time job. from the age of 4-6 I was taken care by grandmother and nanny, 7-12 I was sent to day care centre after school, 13-17 I was either sent to aunt’s house or parent’s business shop. When I was at home, sometimes I would play video games throughout the day, but sometimes my mom would got angry at me for doing so. My dad on the other hand, he was having afternoon shift job, so he basically doesn’t involved much in parenting, but sometimes he would bring us for family trip and we had some good memories of it.
Not sure if this info is sufficient enough to determine what parenting style I grew up with. Not long ago I was reading a book “Growing up again” , still can’t decide if I was growing up with indulgence or neglect care. In short, I was growing up in an environment that doesn’t set boundaries, as an 30 yo adult now, I still find myself not knowing what is right or wrong.
Notebookb6ParticipantDear anita,
We finally got together two months ago, he came over to the country I work, and we were officially together, I was so happy this happen after the two years struggle. Apparently he had the same struggle as me throughout the two years of not knowing if I likes him back. We both talked a lot during that time, and we were both compatible in many ways, we both wanted to be childless and agreed to move in together next year, we will have our separate room in order to focus on own work. He also mentioned about getting married. In short, things were going smoothly between us.
He was being kind and loving towards me too, he is also aware of my insecurity, recently he volunteered to unfollow a female artist that I was jealous of (a mutual friend of us teased that he liked her, and that triggered my anxiety, which leads me to confront him of that, he denied it and confess his love to me on that day). We have sorted out that incident during that time, I shared that I was being cheated in a past relationship, which result in me being insecure and uncomfortable of him getting close with other female friend. He understands that and says we will both face my insecurity together.
Despite him being understanding and caring, I realised my insecurities has happened quite frequently recently. A week ago he attended an art market, and a female fan gave him a pack of foods and drink, with a message card asking him to eat well and take care. He showed me the message card and I started to overthink again. Occasionally I also express my insecurity and a lack of self confident, in which I start to worry if this will affect our relationship negatively.
I told him I’ll try to be more trusting, however it’s hard for me to get this under control. And despite him saying it’s not big deal, recently I’ve noticed there is a decline of our interaction since his art market last week. It can be understood as he is busying with delivering his art orders so he can focus on our short trip happening next week. But the anxious part of me would worry if he has starting to lost interest in me after all the insecurities. That worries slowly amplified when he didn’t initiate the chat for few hours. And the more I feel insecure, the more I feel guilty and feel bad of myself. After all, he has done everything he could and there is no proof that he did any wrong. It is all about me being insecure. I really wanted to fix this but I don’t know how. We are still having long distance relationship and we meet once every 2 months in average, that doesn’t help much on my insecurity. How can I do to be more secure in relationship? I really don’t wan’t it affecting this relationship negatively
Notebookb6ParticipantDear anita
Good to know the other perspective on blushing, I try to adapt with the more neutral way of viewing it. Will try out the 7-4-7 breathing that learned few years back, hope it helps! and thanks for the care and wishes, much appreciated. We catch up soon!
Notebookb6ParticipantDear anita
Yup it will be a in-person dinner gathering at my home town. I have tinted sunscreen that might helps in covering so it shouldn’t be an issue, thanks for the suggestion, I shall bring along the concealer that bought not long ago too just in case. This morning I’ve been start preparing for documents needed to cross country, finger crossed everything will be going smooth next week.
I try not to think about blushing and other reaction, I need some self confidence, probably will write some gratitude journal later
Notebookb6ParticipantDear anita:
Its been 2 years we haven seen each other, and I used to have anxiety while eating together with friend, I afraid will have symptoms again, like face turning red, shaking hand. Also I’m self conscious on my permanent acne scar on face from few years back. I might be overthinking again.Notebookb6ParticipantDear anita,
I’m feeling calmer, my friend still initiate interaction with me as usual, although I still feels like I shouldn’t depend my happiness on him, still trying to shift focus to something else. We’ll be having gathering with mutual friends next week, I feel nervous thinking about it.
Notebookb6ParticipantDear Anita
Thank you for the wishes!
I agree with the saying that he doesn’t determine my livelihood and survival, after suffer so much from this deep attachment, I have to try learn about detachment and focus more in building up my self esteem and confident again. I’ve booked a yoga trial class this weekend and hopefully by joining class it helps to refocus on my life again.
Notebookb6ParticipantDear Anita:
I should have mention it earlier, but YES I’m finally able to fly back hometown after 2 years of seperation, and yes both of us staying in same hometown too, it’ll be until end of February 2022!
He is not that important in your life
I understand that relationship is not 100% of our life, in fact, before pandemic I was happy and confident despite being single. Back then I had a healthy social life and also I visit to gym frequently. Since pandemic happens and we started working from home, my daily social life was basically dropped to almost none. And this guy friend is the only one who text me daily and accompany me throughout the pandemic. Guess this is how the strong attachment formed. I’m still trying to distract from focusing too much on this relationship, that I’m planning to join yoga class or maybe short course in near future.
Notebookb6ParticipantSure take your time 🙂
Notebookb6ParticipantDear Anita
Ever since I experienced betrayal and painful breakup from past relationship, I became paranoia and its hard to trust people anymore. It somehow affects me till now. This current guy friend has been an artist with lots of fans, sometimes when I see fans commented on his photo that he’s cute I felt jealous. He is also friend of other artists and there is one talented pretty lady who is successful in her art career that I often compared myself with, and felt envy. When he doesn’t text me in long hour, i guess he’s been texting with many others people, and that’s where the anxiety stems.
it is possible that he prefers a long-distance almost-relationship over a committed, in-person relationship
From my understanding of his past relationship, it started from him getting close with his ex girlfriend as a coworker -> it leads to more texting -> eventually they got together after getting closer. So I worried this would happen in his new working place too. By the way I finally able to go back hometown soon (2 weeks later) and will be staying there for one month. Will see how we progress from there.
I wonder how a gratitude journal can help your sense of self/ self-esteem?
I’m not too sure as this has just started for the 3rd day, I’m trying to acknowledge and appreciate every action taken by myself that helps in self growth.
Is there no way for you to socialize in-person with people?
Sometimes I socialize with other tenant of the same household, but the interaction is minimal. Once every two months (in average) I meet up with friends too. Aside from that, I have video call one a week with parents. Most of the time, I’m alone when going out for movies or grocery shopping. I’m still looking for ways to meet more new friends, and recently looking up for yoga classes hoping it would fill up my time a little.
Notebookb6ParticipantOkay
Notebookb6ParticipantDear Anita
Thank you again for taking effort to look back previous post, much appreciated
And you’re right that what happened between Dec 2020-Feb 2021 is occurring again this time, its just the same timing and same reason! I understands its not realistic to expect the same texting frequency as previously since the ‘relationship’ is not as new as before, but sometimes its still nerve wracking thinking that he might lost interest and now he got a new working environment that he will meet new colleagues/friends.
He has spent lots and lots of time communicating with you daily for close to two years, so I figure that he is emotionally attached to you and is likely to increase the communication current communication frequency after he completes his personal project
The fact that during Jun-Dec of 2021 we have been texting a lot, to the point he sacrifice sleeping time just to have the night talk, almost everyday. I’m utterly grateful for that. And then we slowly run out of topic, and in mid Dec 2021 he mentioned he has to focus on personal project, and that was when the frequency starting to drop.
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it is possible that he prefers a long-distance almost-relationship over a committed, in-person relationship.
It might be true because he mentioned he needs lots of personal space before. Currently I’m suffering from loneliness after working from home for 2 years, most of the time there is nobody I can talk to, I’m socially deprived and has no life. Which can contribute to my neediness towards him.
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What about the online therapy you mentioned last year?
It’s still on-going since March 2021 till now, the therapist thinks that he has been quite consistent and stable, its mostly my overthinking and low self-esteem that causes so much suffering. I’ve been practising CBT for the past month, sometimes it helps. And now I’m just getting started on practicing writing gratitude journal, hope it helps in improving my sense of self/self-esteem.
- This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by Notebookb6.
Notebookb6ParticipantDear Samy,
I understand your point of view, as when I was reading your text I’m listening to Youtube video about letting go. Just a little bit context, we are not long distance nevermet friend, we have been knowing each other for more than 6 years. I’ve been having the self-esteem issue for the longest time, and is currently working on it through therapy.
But you’re right, I’m giving too much attention on him and is deeply attached, I need to set boundaries and work on myself more.
Just another context that this is not the first time he seems pulling back, the same thing happened last year around the same time when he was working on his personal project. Everything went back to normal once he completed it. So it could be the same case for this time too.
And we have quite a few of friends in common, so cutting contact might not be the best option.
Your advice may sounds hurtful but it might be the truth that I had to face, so thank you for the advice.Notebookb6ParticipantDear Anita
Thanks for highlighting how my childhood issues affect my current emotional situation. Last week I had the first psychotherapy session and it was a getting to know session, the therapist manages to nail down my current issue into two major parts to be dig deeper:
1. my anxious reaction when my male friend is less responsive than usual
2. low self-esteem/lack of sense of selfIts going to take a while until it got things figured out, today I’ll be having a second online therapy session, I have the hope that things will eventually be sorted out. Will keep you updated
Notebookb6ParticipantDear Anita
I’m feeling better recently, as I’ve been very close with the person I mentioned earlier, we have been texting frequently, and he also sent me cookies from his country(my hometown), we had midnight talk once every few days, one time it lasted untill 3am last week, it felt like the connection is back as usual, and last time I was probably overthink too much.
I’ve made an online therapy appointment last month, however they didn’t get back to me for some reason, your message reminds me of contacting them again to make appointment, I will get back to you after first session of the therapy.
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