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What's wrong with me?

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Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 18 total)
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  • #98456
    Missjennacole
    Participant

    Hi there,
    So my whole life I have had unsatisfying relationships. I flirt with guys and then when they show interest in me, immediately I get bored. If I do happen to enter into a relationship with a man, I seem to always be looking for flaws and once I’ve zeroed in on those flaws, everything they do irritates me. As I’ve grown older, I can’t even talk to men anymore. I will be interested for a few moments but then I will suddenly flip and decide I can’t stand them or want nothing to do with them. (This also happens with girls I’ve dated, I just prefer men in general). I’m getting very anxious and depressed about this. I don’t know what to do. Please help?

    #98459
    HippieChick
    Participant

    It sounds like you are enjoying the “chase” and the excitement of meeting new people but not the people themselves. You may just not be ready for a relationship at this point in your life…there’s nothing wrong with that as long as you are honest with both yourself and people you date. If that’s the case, go out and date a lot of different people. Date one guy that’s for concerts and one that’s for taking out to museums. Date one that you go to movies with and one that you hang out in Starbucks and discuss politics with. It’s a social misconception that you MUST choose ONE person and exclusively date them. But, as I said, be honest about it.

    The second option is that you’re trying to fill a void in your life that is impossible to fill this way and that’s why it seems right at first but quickly falls apart. Or why you seem to be looking for reasons to reject the men. If you suspect that’s the case I’d start with some quiet meditation and deep soul searching to see if you can figure out WHAT your looking for OR trying to avoid. You may need the help of a counselor for this part.

    Good luck and kudos to you for recognizing the issue and being able to define it.

    #98460
    Matty
    Participant

    Missjennacole,

    I flirt with guys and then when they show interest in me, immediately I get bored. If I do happen to enter into a relationship with a man, I seem to always be looking for flaws and once I’ve zeroed in on those flaws, everything they do irritates me.

    Well this is the pattern, i guess the first thing is to understand why the pattern continues. You stated that you have always had unsatisfying relationships; did all the men have similar traits? similar personalities? do you have a particular type that you go for? Also what would MAKE you satisfied? is there anything in particular when in a relationship that made you go; “ah, i wish i had more days like this?”. The little things annoy you said. Are they insignificant (leaving the toilet seat up, messy etc.) or significant (always fighting, strong egos etc.)?.

    I will be interested for a few moments but then I will suddenly flip and decide I can’t stand them or want nothing to do with them. (This also happens with girls I’ve dated, I just prefer men in general)

    Hippiechick outlined that you may enjoy the chase. A little bit like a game. I would also suggest that maybe you just like the ‘thrill’ or ‘honeymoon’ stage of the relationship. When it’s all lovey dovey happiness. You see it all the time on TV and online, celebrity found soulmate, divorce 9 days later etc. I believe people who dwell in this stage of the relationship, generally do so because they haven’t thought of where the relationship is even going. Connecting with someone on an intimate level is not a haphazard, lets give it a crack adventure. It’s work, you are creating a functioning team which influence and bounce off one another. Are you looking to be serious? are you willing to set roots down? are you willing to allow someone else into your life? It could be you (subconsciously) aren’t interested in a relationship with others, right now. Maybe you unconsciously sabotage your feelings because it isn’t the right time.

    I’m getting very anxious and depressed about this.

    When you end the relationships, how do others feel? is it mutual? is it “what…um…i don’t understand”? I guess it is ‘normal’ to feel nervous and a little depressed because its a recurring pattern. Well, it would make sense to start to re-evaluate what you do and do it differently. Instead of just flirting and letting the other partner initiate, why not you just go up and ask them if they are interested?

    Also, where is you life heading, do you have a direction. If you do that’s great. If not, then trying to find that direction should be your focus. In either case, ask yourself whether or not you need a relationship. Is it apart of your direction? I’m asking a lot of questions since you know that there is a pattern, but understanding the ‘why’ is a soul searching task. You don’t have to answer me, these questions are more for your reflection. However if you feel like continuing then please post again 🙂 Look at your past and try to reflect and see what you can learn from it. Extract the information.

    Best of luck
    Sincerely,
    Matty

    #98468
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear Missjennacole:

    It sounds to me that you are not interested in an intimate relationship with a man (or a woman) because you were hurt deeply before, hurt in a close relationship, maybe going as far back as the relationship you had with your mother or father… or both. so you protect yourself by looking for flaws, zeroing on them and getting irritated with the men.

    You are getting anxious and depressed about this because you do need an intimate relationship (this is why you flirt).

    If you agree, insight into your hurt will help. Would you like to share about it?

    anita

    #98507
    Missjennacole
    Participant

    Thank you for offering your advice and assistance. My initial thoughts were to link it back to a time where I had been deeply hurt as well. However, I can’t think of a time when I have ever been hurt. My family was amazing, I’ve always had good friends and I’ve dated so many different types that I can’t even attribute it to me just choosing the wrong kind of personalities.

    Going off of something Matty said above:

    When you end the relationships, how do others feel? is it mutual? is it “what…um…i don’t understand”? I guess it is ‘normal’ to feel nervous and a little depressed because its a recurring pattern. Well, it would make sense to start to re-evaluate what you do and do it differently. Instead of just flirting and letting the other partner initiate, why not you just go up and ask them if they are interested?

    Every man I’ve ever dated has been totally blind-sighted. I know this is going to sound horrible and conceited but every time I’ve dated someone, they’ve been crazy about me and I’ve always had one foot out the door. I’ve also tried to take initiative, I’ve asked people out before, and I’ve gotten bored just as easily. There seems to be a small amount of time where I can tolerate a relationship, but when it comes down to it. I resent having to share my life with anyone. I hate having to text them, I don’t like small talk about our days, and I can’t stand how often we are supposed to see each other. I don’t want to be near anyone that often. It sounds exhausting! And then I lust after boys who don’t give me a second look. (I think it’s because to me they feel unattainable and therefore “safe” to like. I don’t have to worry about it going any further than a crush)

    I think that is a huge part of my problem. However, I haven’t the slightest clue where to start to rectify the issue. If anyone has any advice, please help! This is so discouraging. I truly want to have a healthy and normal relationship, but it seems impossible at the moment.

    #98520
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear Missdennacole:

    I would love to try and help you get insight into this and would not give up before you do!

    For this purpose I need to learn more about your background:

    Did you grow up with siblings? If so, did you resent sharing with them: sharing toys, attention from your parents… share your room with them, anything like that?

    As a child, was any or both of your parents overprotective, that is wanting to know where you were at all times and what you did. Did you have to … report to either one, give a record of your thoughts, feelings, actions to them?

    And otherwise, is there anything about your childhood that annoyed you then, that you remember?

    anita

    #98542
    Missjennacole
    Participant

    Anita,
    Thank you for taking the time to try and assist me. I grew up an only child, although I never had a problem sharing toys with other people.

    My parents were a bit over protective for my taste, but not to the point that I had to report to either one on serious topics. I’m incredibly close with my mother and I have been my entire life. She’s always been my best friend.

    Although my parents have a good marriage, their occasional fights did cause me stress.

    Even as a child I was a nurturer and a comforter. If another child fell and my mother went to hug them, instead of getting jealous, I’d go over and hug them as well.

    In high school I had some problems with self worth, like all teenage girls. But I made a serious turnaround and started working to better myself. I had made a lot of progress until I met my last boyfriend. At first he seemed different, I didn’t seem to bore of him, in fact, I couldn’t get enough of talking to him. But then something changed in me and I started to resent him and pull away. In response he cheated and we broke up. However we had maintained a relative on and off again friendship. He is the closest thing I think I’ve ever had to feeling like I had a normal relationship, and even then it fell apart after a while.

    #98552
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear Missjennacole:

    Will you tell me about your parents’ occasional fights? What were those fights like? Were they physical? what words were used? Where were you when those fights took place? And what were the fights about?

    Like I wrote to you, I am interested in helping you get insight and I am optimistic about this aim. It takes this asking questions and searching for information. This is the reason for the questions.

    anita

    #98571
    Brandon
    Participant

    Hi everyone I’m new here so I’ll get it to it. Growing up I never had any friends. My sister and I never got along in fact one time our fights were so bad that I almost wanted to kill myself. That starts when we were held back in third grade. Fast forward a few years later, still living with my parents and what’s worse I don’t drive( embarrassing but ever since my bike accident I’ve been afraid of driving and everytime I try to take the test I fail everytime), I don’t have a job and no money(use to work in customer service but got laid off in January) and what’s worse I mess up during niter views and my mom and I think that I may be dyslexic on a communication all level meaning I mess up on words or get things mixed up etc. and I don’t get hired.
    I do art commissions but no one would hire me for that. This is the link to my site http://brandonrsahm.strikingly.com/ and even though last month after getting drunk and admitting to my parents that I want to kill myself and making a vision board and affirmations, there’s still a part of me that wants to end it because I’m a disappointment, I didn’t do anything with my life and everyone I know is. I even have this obsession to overthink “what if” or “what could have been” stuff like that, I can’t even sleep at night anymore.
    I enjoy comicbooks like marvel and DC, I love pop culture, and I’m an Eagle Scout. Would’ve been better if I was in the navy or in school ( I choked during training and dropped out because it was too expensive. Tried financial aid but no one got back to me if I qualified). Hearing or seeing everybody I often thought that one day I was gonna make a life for myself while living in a world of hate, ignorance, and biggots but I’m afraid to socialize because of my background and deep down, I wish I could forget it all if not become someone else. I try to be me, I try to be good but what does it get me? Many times where I would dream that I would become an actor or an artist but now that’s all it is and even now as I’m writing this, I’m afraid what people on here would think of me, what would they feel or say? I just paid off the rest of an expensive bill that was a lesson for me and now, I’m not sure what to think. I’m going back to church but I still feel doubts and that emptiness.
    If I could turn invisible I would so no one would find me or worry since we live in a world where no lives matter. I always ask god why he created me? Why did he give me life? I didn’t ask to come to existence, I didn’t ask for any of this. I just wish that I was someone else.

    #98582
    Anonymous
    Guest

    * Brandon: Can you copy the post you wrote above, and paste it into a new thread? This thread was started by another member of this forum and should be about her post. Hope to see your post above in a new thread.
    anita

    #98584
    Matty
    Participant

    missjennacole,

    Every man I’ve ever dated has been totally blind-sighted.

    Have you ever dated a friend? It just makes me curious as to the men always being completely taken by surprise. Are these men/ women ever been close to you before? A relationship can be any length of time, how long does it take before you generally start to bore? on average. Because i wonder, when you start to get bored, could be a sign that your getting ‘too interested’ or they are getting too interested in you. They personal things you wouldn’t share with others. If this is the case, then i think it’s less about being in relationship with someone who likes chit chats and annoys you. It could simply be you don’t want to share who you are inside to others. You like a bit of mystery? I’m just trying to wrap my head around someone who is successful at catching the fish, but always releasing them back into the wild. I mean it happens, man there are so many movies about it. But this is real life 🙂

    Being an only child can have certain effects on one’s life. For instance, if you were the center of attention as a child, then not much (IMO) changes over time. This makes sense, there was only one of you 😉 But it does bring the question of your limited attention span to others. It’s like once you have received enough attention you move on. It could be symbolic of your need to be appreciated by others, but not judged. We always judge people, it’s a fact that makes most uncomfortable. But this is how we end up with friends, partners etc. By passing judgment on others we either trust them or don’t. It’s just a thought, and i think i’m way off.

    I resent having to share my life with anyone.

    Maybe it’s that you are just not ready. Maybe you still in the prime of your life and want to play around, it’s more that the relationship side accidentally becomes attached. Almost like a ‘tag along’. So it truly depends on whether you want to be in a relationship right now. Do you? You might find that the timing is not right, hence why you only want ‘crushes’ or partners for a short time. You are filling a temporary void until you move on. But eventually you will want to settle down (permanently fill that void), it’s just not now. You feel an attachment to your previous ex, as an exercise put his name in the middle of a piece of paper and write down the things that make him/ her standout from the rest. What made him more than the others? Hopefully you might be able to see a difference in your previous patterns. Finally, when in a relationship certain sacrifices and sharing occurs (although you state you haven’t had issues sharing), but material possessions is one thing, it’s different when it’s yourself (your emotions, will, beliefs, things that make you who you are). If you aren’t prepared to share part of your life with another, than what’s the point? You wouldn’t be in a relationship, it would be two people living together without really knowing each other until it becomes awkward and moving on as a result.

    But then again, and this is my second major point, you haven’t met the right one. I mean you have been with many people and in various relationships, i figure there are still a couple million people out there….you only have to find one 🙂 that’s the good news! You sort of have found someone who is your ex, so maybe the next time will be better. You could just have a different procedure for finding a decent mate, that’s all.

    What do think? Again, there is nothing wrong with you…unless you’re doing a ‘species’ on everyone! 😉 I always tell people, that ‘normal’ is socially constructed, that what we think is normal, may be only within our own community, within our own household..even our own mind. So don’t measure yourself to others who just meet one person and settle down, have kids etc. ‘Different’ is normal.

    Sincerely,
    Matty

    #98600
    TriangleSun
    Participant

    Matty brings up an excellent point. You haven’t said once that you want to be in a relationship and it doesn’t read like you do. Why do you conclude that there is something wrong with you? There is likely nothing wrong. You’re just not ready to be committed to anyone.

    #98634
    Missjennacole
    Participant

    Thank you all so much for taking the time to assist me.

    Anita, I’ll start by answering your questions:

    Will you tell me about your parents’ occasional fights? What were those fights like? Were they physical? what words were used? Where were you when those fights took place? And what were the fights about?

    My parents sometimes fought about different ways to raise me, when to let me pierce my ears, how to let me dress at what age, etc.
    The fights were never really bad until I was a teenager. They were never physical, it’s just a lot of shouting. They are both incredibly strong willed people but at the end of the day you can see how much they love each other. My parents were best friends for 10 years before they got married.

    Matty, Thank you for helping as well. You make a lot of insightful points.

    Have you ever dated a friend? It just makes me curious as to the men always being completely taken by surprise. Are these men/ women ever been close to you before?

    I have dated a few friends before. Those relationships went a little better than the ones I’ve had when I immediately jump into dating them.

    It’s like once you have received enough attention you move on.

    Ouch, I didn’t think so before, but that might be spot-on. I feel like I go long periods of time single and independent, but when I get lonely I seek someone’s attention. I tend to only do it when I’m starved for physical or emotional affection. Like a relationship camel.
    I don’t feel ready for anything serious, but I also don’t know what I want. I long for someone whom I really connect with as more than a friend. (I have some very close friends whom I have such a strong bond with). But I think I want more than a friendship. I’m also concerned that I’m idealizing relationships too much. I want everything to come easy to me, and when it doesn’t I give up.

    The difference that stands out the most to me with my ex is that he pursued me and took a little more control. I didn’t always have to do the work. When I do the work in a relationship, I tend to get tired very easily, and then I resent them as well. (Relating back to my need for things to come easily to me.) In past relationships I would be the person who picked where to eat, what movies to see, not because I’m bossy, but because the guys I dated were so indecisive. With my ex, he asked me to a movie with a movie already in mind. He checked to see if I was okay with the movie, but it was refreshing to see someone make a decision for once. He was also less shy than the others. He wasn’t afraid to show people that he loved me. I think things started to fall apart when he got emotional. He cried once, we had a fight over saying I love you, (I’m a notorious “I love you” slut. I even say it to the mailman.) I loved the lust and the need he had for me, but I also liked the feeling that he always wanted to protect me, he made me feel safe. I never had a boyfriend before who would (even after we were broken up) walk me to my car to make sure I was safe. I think he’s the closest I’ve ever come to really falling for a boyfriend. But there were too many problems with us.

    I think I worry less about being perceived as “normal” and more about never finding someone because I’m this way.

    #98648
    Matty
    Participant

    Missjennacole,

    Everything you are posting here is great! you are in a sense talking yourself through your current situation. We all just happen to be in the bleachers screaming and cheering like at a grand final!

    Like a relationship camel.

    This has made my day! 🙂

    The difference that stands out the most to me with my ex is that he pursued me and took a little more control. I didn’t always have to do the work

    Okay, i think we are getting to the end game here, you connect with men who are as invested in going places as you are. A man, not some guy or boy, but a man who knows what he wants, is confident in himself, trusts his choices. You want a man that takes action, but also cares about your feelings and what you want to do. You want a man to look after you (protect you, or at least feel like there is a hulking silver back gorilla that’s got your 6!…i mean this metaphorically of course). IMO he sounds like a ‘bloke’, you want a ‘bloke’! To me, it sounds like you actually know what you want, you know the kind of guy that can make you happy. It’s a matter of just finding him. Easier said then done, i know.

    I think things started to fall apart when he got emotional. He cried once

    You would hate me, i cried recently watching the animated movie ‘The little prince’ 🙂 But seriously, i think it could also be that you have a particular idea of what a man ‘should’ be and what a man ‘shouldn’t’ be. Everyone is entitled to their perceptions and beliefs, however they still need to be somewhat realistic, otherwise your relations will always be based on an un-achievable ideal. This more than anything else will cause you sadness and depression. You just have to work on slowly changing your perceptions of the ideal, it will take time, but start to ‘soften’ your ideal. Be willing to step outside of your comfort zone in this regard. I also believe that when people are in a relationship, naturally they become more vulnerable, sometimes emotions run high as a result. If you want something more, then you may have to give a little more.

    I want everything to come easy to me, and when it doesn’t I give up.

    This is a mindset, and attitude. It can be adjusted, you just have to want to do it. Since it will be challenging and difficult you may well truly give up. So then try again. And then try again and again. You may spend your entire life trying, that’s what i have done. One is not empty because they haven’t achieved what they set, one is empty because they decided they weren’t good enough to dust themselves off and try again. Each time learning from your past experiences, not mistakes, just experiences. You have to rationalize your choices: either continue down this path (which is why you wrote this post) or attempt to change. These are your choices. Until your want is as great as your need, you will continue down the same path…as a relationship camel. One of the most powerful quotes i know is that; “If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere” Frank A. Clark

    (I’m a notorious “I love you” slut. I even say it to the mailman.)

    Then be aware next time that you should tone down the use of such a word. Love is not an easy word for people to understand, at one moment it’s an emotion, at another it’s a feeling, at another it’s an expression of one’s inner emotions. Love is not a word that should be thrown around willy nilly. It’s fine if you are joking around, but when it’s time to get serious, try not to say it because you feel that the moment demands it. Only say it, when you truly feel it. Although your feelings for another may be subconscious, your understanding of it is conscious. Don’t say it unless you mean it, unless you understand what you love about someone. Words are more powerful than most give credit to, they have the power to influence, hinder, hurt, save, manipulate or destroy someone. They are truly magical. With great power, comes great responsibility 😉

    Once again, everything you are writing, is a form of healing, a form of inner reflection. I think, ultimately you know what you want to do, more so than myself or others. All i can say is; believe in yourself. Believe that you can change your current situation, believe that you are capable of finding love, believe that at the end of the day, it can only get better.

    I hope this was helpful, if you have any comments or questions, just keep posting 😉
    Sincerely,
    Matty

    • This reply was modified 8 years, 9 months ago by Matty.
    #98675
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear Missjennacole:

    In my quest to help you with insight, I have more questions:

    You wrote that your parents are incredibly strong willed, this is how you put it, I believe. Tell me more about them being strong willed: how did them being so strong willed express itself when you were a young child?

    When there were lots of shouting between them, how did it make you feel at the time? Did you intervene, try to comfort your parents when they were angry at each other? If you did, what was their response?

    How did your parents handle the “soft emotions” in each other and in you? Soft emotions being fear, hurt, sadness? Did they express those to each other, to you? Did they allow you to express those to them?

    anita

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