Being romantically interested in a person can be life-changing and thrilling. But if you have a fear of intimacy, you may not be able to fully enjoy or even appreciate the blossoming of a new relationship. And if you’ve had past relationship trauma, this can be a trigger. Thankfully, there are a few tell-tale signs that you could have a fear of intimacy.
Relationship Sabotage
Have you been finding things wrong with the person you’ve been spending time with? Have you been skeptical of their motives, or presumptuous regarding their actions? These are all thoughts that can lead to relationship sabotage – and you often do it without even realizing it.
Subconsciously, you may be afraid to get too close. And you may begin to sabotage your new relationships in order to validate parting ways.
Difficulty in Expressing Emotions
Fear of intimacy can be caused by many factors. And if there has been a case of past relationship trauma, you may have extreme difficulty being affectionate, receiving affection, or in any emotional expression with your partner.
When you cannot express yourself emotionally or communicate your needs to your partner, this may also reinforce a feeling of being unworthy and can also inhibit the development of trust.
Serial Dating
Fear of intimacy is also often associated with a fear of commitment. And this is usually where we hear the term “serial dating” come into play.
Serial dating is the act of dating a large number of people in a short amount of time, much more than what would be considered a casual dater. And this often leads to a preference for NSA relationships where no commitment is required – keeping you free from taking any relationship to the next level, or any of the responsibilities and expectations common to any relationship.
The Lukin Center for Psychotherapy is located in New Jersey and offers six locations to better serve the state.
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