Jealousy In A Marriage

Does your partner seem jealous of what you do or who you spend time with? If so, you should be concerned. Jealousy is a strong emotion that can negatively impact one’s life so much that they can experience anxiety and depression.

Some people think jealousy is cute or a way to show love. It’s neither, and it can be the sign of something more serious. In fact, jealousy is a top motive for murder.  As you can imagine, jealousy can destroy a marriage, leading to divorce.

How Does Jealousy Happen?

Jealousy stems from low self-esteem. A person may begin to feel worthless during childhood, especially if there is sibling rivalry involved. Sometimes jealousy develops later in life, when a person has been cheated on by a partner. This infidelity can lead to insecurity, which can then develop into extreme jealousy.

Jealous people often have unrealistic expectations for their marriages. They may expect their spouses to focus solely on them, not allowing them to work or have hobbies or friends. They develop a sense of possessiveness and control and limit their spouses’ freedom because they feel they will find someone better.

People who are jealous believe that this control will stop the damage from the past. They won’t be cheated on again because they are limiting their spouse’s freedom. Instead, this insecurity has the opposite effect, driving the spouse away.

Jealousy can be innocent, pathological, or somewhere in the middle. A little jealousy in a marriage is healthy. It’s OK for people to feel a small amount of jealousy when their spouse talks about a past lover or has a friend of the opposite sex. However, too much jealousy can lead to dangerous behavior and even murder. It is not uncommon for a jilted lover to lash out at a former partner.

Treating Jealousy 

If your partner is experiencing extreme jealousy, your first step may be to try treatment. Psychotherapy is a common treatment. A therapist can help a person process negative emotions that may be causing the jealous behavior by helping the person:

• Learn the difference between normal and harmful
• Learn skills to regulate their emotions.
• Identify what causes the feelings of jealousy.
• Use mindfulness to handle jealousy.
• Build communication skills.
• Help people boost their confidence and self-worth.

Cognitive behavioral therapy may be helpful. It can be used to help people adjust their thoughts, since jealousy is often based on low self-esteem and negativity. This can help people change their thought pattern and identify jealous feelings so they can work on them and start to think more positively.

Seek Legal Help

Jealousy can have detrimental effects on a marriage. If you or your partner are experiencing jealous feelings, it can lead to control and abuse.

If counseling doesn’t work, it may be time to end your marriage. Seek legal help from Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer Edward J. Jennings, P.A. He can guide you through the divorce process. Fill out the online form or call 954-764-4330 to schedule a consultation.

Resource:

goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/jealousy/overcome