Relationships can cause anxiety for a number of different reasons. You’re trusting someone with your heart and that’s really scary. That being said, if they live super far away, you may end up having long distance relationship anxiety that can take a toll on both of you.
It’s never fun to have anxiety. Even if it can be normal at first, experiencing it in long-term can be detrimental to your happiness as a couple. For that reason, you really have to figure out how to get rid of it so you can actually enjoy being with your significant other.
It’s hard. I’m not going to lie. It’ll take a while before you’re able to move past it completely but making an effort here is really important. Think about how much your relationship means to you and fight to move beyond this obstacle stopping you from achieving happiness with the one person you love more than anything. Then follow these tips.
#
Determine the underlying causeWhy are you feeling this way in the first place? It can’t just be because your significant other is living far away. Anxiety is almost always rooted in fear.
But what are you so afraid of? Do you think they’ll cheat on you? Are you insecure in the strength of your bond? Knowing why you feel this way can actually help you find a solution that’ll calm your nerves.
# Talk to each other about itOnce you figure out why you’re so anxious, talk to your partner about it. Tell them your fears and just work it out together. You can’t get past something like this by yourself. You’re a team and you have to act like it especially if you’re in a long-distance relationship.
# Have date nights
Obviously, you can’t do this in person but it’s important to spend as much “quality time” together as you possibly can. That means having video chats while you both watch the same movie or scheduling time for intimate phone calls and the like.
Make this a priority because you have to have some level of intimacy even if you’re living really far away from each other. Just like you’d have date nights in person, have them virtually.
# Stop comparing your relationshipYou’ll be tempted to compare your relationship to the ones you see in real life since your partner is miles and miles away. You can’t do this.
When you compare, you’ll be unhappy no matter what because those other couples aren’t in your position. Doing this will constantly push you further and further from your partner and you can’t have that.
# Ask your partner for helpIf you’re feeling some long distance relationship anxiety, you need to ask for help. Your significant other might feel completely fine and not nervous or tense at all. This might make things even harder for you.
You may feel odd telling them you need some help simply because they’re doing just fine. But don’t. If you need help, tell them so you can actually get back to a great place together. You’re a team. When one member needs help, the other swoops in.
# See each other as much as you canYou have to make this a priority in your life. That means financially and with your time. Make an effort to visit as much as you can because face-to-face intimacy is still needed to make your relationship work. It’ll also help ease some of that anxiety, too.
# Video chat randomlyYou don’t have to stick to your set times and then not chat any other times. Just call him up randomly and have a video chat. This will help with the normalcy of seeing each other when you want, even if it’s only over a phone or computer.
# Communicate regularly and religiouslyThis is crucial in
any relationship, but especially for long distance ones. You have to be
talking and telling each other how you feel about basically everything.
Even if you think a concern of your is trivial, mention it anyways.
Pent-up unhappiness can ruin your relationship.
# Get your expectations out on the table
What do you want
out of this relationship? Better yet, what do you need from your partner
in order to get rid of this long distance relationship anxiety?
When
you talk to each other and figure out what one another needs, you can
avoid the anxiety altogether. Just remember that unrealistic
expectations will only make your relationship worse, so think long and
hard about it.