We all have emotions, but we all show them differently, and some people feel as though they’re more emotionally sensitive than others. This is not a bad thing. It can be quite positive, especially if being emotional means that they’re emotionally intelligent and communicative. If you are dating someone who might be described as an emotional person, they will likely express themselves clearly and communicate their feelings, which is positive for a relationship. They want to feel heard and hear you when you’re feeling emotional, too
Are you dating someone who wears their heart on their sleeve? If so, here are ten tips.
1. Embrace The Emotional Parts Of Them
In any relationship, it’s essential to feel appreciation or affection and show it. Think of the positive qualities surrounding this person’s deep emotionality. Are they empathetic? Understanding? Do they make an active effort not to harm others? Are they good at supporting you? Regardless of whether they have one of those qualities or another a great quality, make sure that you tell them what you like and appreciate about them. Hopefully, they are doing that for you as well. If not, going to counseling or therapy as a couple might be helpful, as communication and affection are two things that matter in relationships.
2. Avoid Cliché Statements When They’re Upset
Learn More Tips On How To Support Your Partner
There are a lot of clichés out there in the world, especially as they relate to emotion, and they’re not always helpful.
An example of a cliché that might be unhelpful is, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” You might be trying to comfort your partner with a statement like this, but what’s more helpful is to ask how you can best support them. If applicable, you might even ask what mantras or statements help your partner.
Some people like hearing, “It will be okay,” whereas, for other people, that statement might make them feel as though their feelings are being overlooked or discounted. Checking in matters. If you need to talk about an emotional topic later rather than right now, instead of using clichés, communicate that.
3. Find Out If They Want You To Help Or Want You To Listen
One of the most caring things to do when someone comes to you for support is checking in and seeing what they need. While it might feel unnatural, the best thing you can do in this instance is to ask someone if they want advice or a listening ear in a straightforward manner.
This can look like saying, “Do you prefer that I listen, or do you want to bounce off some ideas and look for a solution together?”, “How can I best support you?”, or “Are you looking for advice or for someone to listen?”
Why is this so crucial? First, https://ipnuippnupati.id/ it shows that you support a person’s autonomy. By asking, “Do you prefer that I listen, or do you want to bounce off some ideas and get some advice?” you’re saying, “I trust that you know what you need.” Second, unsolicited advice can be more harmful than it is helpful. Even if it’s well-intended, it can make a person feel misunderstood. Additionally, if someone is hoping to vent and process their emotions, it doesn’t always provide the space for them to do so.
In the past, you might’ve stepped in to handle the situation for your partner or jumped into advice-giving. More often than not, a person can let you know if what they need is a listening ear or advice. Acting accordingly can save you a lot of headaches and tension in your relationship.
4. Don’t Dismiss Their Feelings.
When you’re dating an emotional person, they may have a lot of feelings about a lot of things. If you aren’t the same way, this can be a hard thing for you to understand. You may not understand why they feel certain ways or why they react in certain ways, such as crying.
The two of you can go through the same situation, and they may end up feeling a lot differently about it than you did. If you don’t want to end up hurting their feelings or in an argument, do not dismiss their feelings. Just because you don’t feel the same way doesn’t mean that their feelings are inaccurate.
If you don’t understand why your partner’s feeling the way they are, ask them to explain it to you and then listen. You still may not understand it completely but do your best to see it through their eyes.
5. Know That You Don’t Have To Understand It
As mentioned above, you may not understand what they’re going through, even when they explain it to you. That’s okay. You don’t have to understand it to support them and what they are going through when it comes down to it.
They may always get upset more easily than you, and you may never be able to understand why it’s happening. But, because you understand that they are emotional, you can show support even if you don’t understand their emotions.
6. Express Your Emotions, Too
Do you tend to hold things inside? The odds are that there will be times when your partner may want to talk about something, such as a seemingly small argument or something that happened outside of the relationship entirely, and you may not see the need. Instead of saying something like, “Why do we need to talk about it?” say, “Okay, let’s talk about that.”
Hear them out and, if it’s a situation where you have feelings about the situation, too, express them. If you are having difficulty naming how you feel, explain that and talk through it. You can get reassurance from each other and come to a conclusion that’ll support the relationship’s health, but that can only happen if you both communicate. This should be a dynamic where both of you feel supported, so check in with yourself and see if you have any under-communicated thoughts or fears.
7. Follow Through On What You Say
It’s essential to show that you’re reliable in any relationship. That is just respect. It’s okay to say “no” in relationships but follow through if you say that you’re going to do something. For example, if you say that you will be there at 3 PM, be there at 3 PM, or communicate if that’s not possible. Be punctual and dependable. It builds trust, and it reflects well on you.
8. Watch Your Words
Words always carry weight, but with an emotional person, they can be even more so. You need to pay attention to what you’re saying and how you’re saying it. It may be easier to say something that hurts their feelings or upsets them than for other people. By knowing this, you can act upon that knowledge. That means you need to be more aware of what you’re saying to ensure that you’re not crossing any lines.
9. Determine If This Is The Right Relationship For You
There are many reasons why it can be an advantage to date a person in touch with their emotions. But some people are controlled by or express their emotions in an unhealthy way. This can weigh heavily on you and your relationship. It can leave you feeling like there’s nothing you can do right in the relationship. Before you allow the relationship to go on too far, think about if this is a good relationship for you and one you want to be in for the long term.
Do not stay with her because you count on them changing. Since the implication of the word “emotional” can range so significantly in this context, focus instead on if the relationship is healthy or unhealthy for you. There’s nothing wrong with being emotional, but certain behaviors and thought patterns (such as all or nothing thinking) are unhealthy. And, of course, not everyone’s a match; sometimes, that’s all it is, and it’s no one’s fault.
While it could be possible that someone may change as time goes on, there’s no guarantee that it will happen. So instead of delaying a breakup, making it even harder on both of you, make sure that you decide on what you’re getting into before it goes too far.
10. Know When To Get Help
Learn More Tips On How To Support Your Partner
There are times when a person who may be deemed emotional is struggling with a mental health condition or fears from a past relationship, in which case, they may decide to ask for support. For example, if things like all or nothing thinking, accusations, and high sensitivity to seemingly small things (not texting back quickly, etc.) are causing a person distress, counseling or therapy may be highly advantageous. You can encourage and help someone find a therapist or counselor if they’re on board, but you can’t necessarily force another person into seeking help.
Couples counseling may also be advantageous for couples struggling with getting on the same page emotionally or facing other concerns in their partnership. It can help you understand each other better, work through anything that’s holding you back, communicate and show up for each other more effectively, and so on. You may also decide to see an individual counselor or therapist yourself for one-on-one sessions. The benefits of therapy are so vast that anyone can benefit, and we all need someone to talk to. A bonus is that seeing a therapist or counselor offers an outside perspective, which is often important for interpersonal relationships.
Find A Provider
There are various ways to find a therapist or counselor to work with. You can use an online directory, look for low-cost services near you, conduct a web search, see what your insurance plan or employee assistance program covers, or sign up for an online platform like Regain. All of the providers at Regain are licensed, and you can use the platform to sign up for individual therapy or couples therapy.
Online therapy has become increasingly popular, and it has also been shown to be as effective in helping support to those in relationships as in-person therapy.
If you’re not sure what you need yet, you can even sign up for the platform now and choose later. Whether you decide to seek individual or couples therapy, take pride in getting support.