Soothing the Green-eyed Monster: How to Deal with Jealousy

Jealousy is a difficult emotion for most people to handle. Too much of it and you behave like a psychotic. Too little and you could lose someone you love who thinks you’re indifferent. Jealousy can be justified in some cases and in others you could be overreacting. Either way, outbursts of jealous rage are unattractive and destructive. How can you deal with jealousy? Well, in this article we will tell you how. Are you ready? Let's begin.

First of all, you may not have any control over the way your partner acts but you do have control over the way you react when something happens to make you insanely jealous. Understanding why you feel jealous is the first step in overcoming your jealousy. If your partner is a notorious flirt, then you do have a right to feel insecure. The motivation of your partner’s flirtatious way can help you discern whether your jealousy is justified. Some people are just naturally friendly and outgoing. They don’t intend to give off the impression that they are seeking attention from the opposite sex, they simply have an innate ability to send off that vibe. There are only two choices for a jealous person with a partner like this and that is to either leave them and find someone less vivacious, or get over yourself. In the second scenario is a partner that is purposely flirting to get a rise out of you. If you know this to be true then why react at all? It will only lead to drama and apparently this is just the reaction your immature partner is hoping for.

Second, don’t give in and give him/her the satisfaction of getting upset. You may however want to consider if it’s in your best interest to stay with a person who has so little respect for you. Communication is imperative in a relationship. A partner who resorts to game playing has no potential for a long-term commitment.

Last but not least is a partner who makes you jealous because they truly have no integrity where relationships are concerned. This person’s goal is to sneak around behind your back and have affairs without any concern for your emotional or physical well-being. Your feelings of jealousy over him/her are wasted because this person doesn’t care what you think. You’re just along for the ride and as soon as someone better comes along you’ll be kicked to the curb. Better for you to walk away now before you get hurt.

When it comes to jealousy and how to deal with jealousy, it’s important to keep your perspective and try to understand your partner’s motive (if there is one) in trying to make you jealous. If there isn’t one and you simply have unresolved issues or baggage of your own, its time to look inside yourself. Try to understand why you are so insecure and then work towards building up your self-esteem. Get involved in activities that make you feel better about yourself. Develop friendships of your own, apart from your partner. Take on a balanced view of the relationship and remember that you have the control. You can choose how to feel in situations where jealousy may arise. You can deal with your jealousy.