Learn about the causes of Jealousy & find a practitioner in Auckland, Hamilton, Bay of Plenty, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin to help you overcome Jealousy within New Zealand.
Jealousy is a fear of loss, a feeling of suspicion or a distrust toward others. It is an irrational reaction to a loss in self-esteem and is often directed at a rival (usually during relationship struggles) whereby an individual feels the threat of losing a loved-one to a more attractive other.
Jealousy can be caused by a variety of reasons but the most common is a
reaction to a perceived threat within a relationship. Jealousy differs
to envy in that the fear is of losing someone and the problem usually
involves three people: the couple and someone outside of the couple who
is seen as a threat to the quality of that relationship.
Mild
and occasional feelings of jealousy within a relationship can act as a
reminder not to take the other person for granted and encourages an
appreciation of the other person. Jealousy can act as a positive thing
making the bond between two people stronger and more passionate.
When
jealousy becomes intense or irrational then difficulties can arise. If
out of proportion to the situation, jealous feelings can be
overwhelming such as if a man has a new female boss or if a wife dances
with a male friend at a party.
Such situations can result in a
strain on a relationship leaving one partner on edge whenever they do
something so as not to trigger a jealous reaction and the other
completely unaware of their problem but dealing with self-blame or
justification of their actions
Jealousy is not a condition in itself but can cause a wide range of
emotions, thoughts and behaviour which can be detrimental to health and
wellbeing.
Emotions experienced during jealousy include: anger, envy, fear, grief, humiliation, pain and sadness.
Jealous
thoughts can lead a person to resentment, blame, self-pity, worry about
self-image and comparison with the person seen as a rival.
Physical behaviours include feeling light-headed or faint, sweating, aggression and sometimes violence.
If ignored, symptoms can build to mental health problems such as stress, anxiety, low self-esteem and depression.
There are no diagnostic tests which can measure jealousy but the
thoughts, emotions and behaviours you display can help to identify if
you are jealous but only if the problem is discussed with a healthcare
expert such as a counsellor or psychotherapist.
Often the most difficult part of recognising jealousy is admitting to someone that you are jealous.
*Source: GoToSee.co.uk