Is it normal to sabotage your own relationship?

I'm ruining my relationship. I get jealous and needy and do all the things I know will drive my partner crazy. We could work out but I'm pushing them away while being clingy at the same time.

I ask my partner questions about what their doing and make assumptions. I accuse them of cheating, when I know they aren't.. I can't understand why I'm sabotaging my relationship, what is wrong with me? I don't want to be this person

Voting Results
63% Normal
Based on 40 votes (25 yes)
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Comments ( 11 )
  • jeebley

    Yes people do this... I have done this.
    Do you think you have doubts about the relationship?

    Its probably some subconscious thing....I don't know. But if you want the relationship to continue, you have to be really conscious of what your doing and don't fall into these traps.
    I would recommend picturing situations where you find yourself doing these negative things, and then imagine yourself acting in a better way. The way you want to act to replace these sabotaging things you're doing.

    You're aware that you're doing this stuff, so now just nip it in the bud!! Stop it before it happens by being conscious in the moment and shifting gears so you don't just find yourself down the same paths.

    You can be the person you want to be. Good luck!

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    • I doubt my ability to love him because I don't even love myself.

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      • ifonlyuknew247

        Boom. You hit the nail on the head. That's where your ...where OUR problem lies. Your partner can't do anything to affect it, it is all within you. You must find out why you don't love yourself, and then Change that so that you do. You owe it to your partner, to everyone you love, and everyone who loves you to be the best that you can be by loving yourself first so that you can love them fully.

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        • jeebley

          I think you're right here. Also in your other post when you spoke about talking to your partner about the problem. That kind of really honest communication, where you have to be almost brutally honest with yourself, to at least let them know you are aware of what you are doing and you're trying!
          Well said. It sounds like you can relate to Op very much.

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  • justaverage

    It's completely normal -- I do this with a lot of relationships, even just friends. I think I have trust issues and so try to sabotage relationships before I get too attached, as it's always people who I'm becoming closer to. I just all of a sudden become really mean to them. I have noticed however that in the past couple of years I seem to have fixed the problem somehow... So good luck, you'll figure it out when the time comes.

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  • JoMama123451234

    Your problem is you have a lack of understanding of men and how they behave. This video will give you a much better understanding of why you get this way. It's long but worth it.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4y8Eh5-4B0

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  • kelili

    You just need some more years to gain some maturity and improve your grammar.

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  • Avant-Garde

    I have never been in a relationship before, but I do have the tendency to sabotage my life. So, yes, I can relate. Is this normal? No, I don't think it is.

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  • ifonlyuknew247

    This makes me very sad, because it reminds me of a similar situation I am dealing with right now. I did the exact same things over the course of the relationship, and I knew I was hurting our love for one another. It seemed I couldn’t help myself, because I was never sure of where I stood in the relationship. My partner was really into me, then not so much, then decided he wanted to get serious, then things got strained and we broke up and got back together several times. Both of us tried to make it work, but I never knew how he really felt about me. He told me at times I was not the “one”, and he wasn’t going to commit, but then he would say I wasn’t a placeholder, even though I felt like that from that definition. I know his feelings were strong and loving for me, and mine were too, but we bickered about the stupidest things because of my insecurity, my defensiveness and my jealousy, which was often unwarranted. I wished we could go back to trusting and loving one another, because I know he was much more open before than I was, and now it’s kind of the opposite. I often ask him to try to forget about the past and start over, but I don’t know if he wants to do that. All I know is that I have upset him a lot, and sometimes it still happens. What I wish he knew is how much I love him and I wish I could show him how much I’ve changed. It’s really hard with all of that past baggage in the relationship. I don’t know if he wants to be serious or not, though I have the feeling if I let the sweet, loving person I am inside out and showed it to him, he would. I think he knows, and I can feel his heart opening to me sometimes, and it is beautiful. Other people influence the situation, though, and certain circumstances also hinder the relationship. He is my true love and I believe he is my soulmate and the one for me. I don’t know how to handle the situation either, but I keep praying, because that is all I feel I can do sometimes, I am so sad and frustrated, wishing I could be the person I want to be around him. He has a lot of mistrust in my ability to not be this horrible person that I turn into sometimes, and that kind of lends to my drifting back into that part of me, but I went through therapy to help me, and am going to continue with methods and tools my therapist gave me to use after my sessions were done (there were only a certain amount that were free at my college). My heart goes out to you, and all I can suggest is that you find a time when you are both calm and happy with one another, and explain how you feel and how much you love your partner, and that you don’t want to sabotage the relationship. Make sure they know you are aware of your responsibility in the situation and that your love is very strong and you want to be able to overcome this. Perhaps you have the same situation in which he doesn’t reinforce making you feel more secure (which my partner acknowledged he hasn’t done in several cases), or doesn’t act like he is happy to hear from you sometimes, or ignores your phone calls/texts, and basically has you in a place where you don’t know where you stand, or if you have a chance. I try to communicate with my partner as much as possible, but sometimes the “talking” turns into arguing somehow, and we end up upset at one another again. I am trying to find ways to communicate more effectively by reading self-help books and using the tools suggested by my therapist. I know if I don’t find a way to overcome this in myself, it will completely ruin the relationship, if it hasn’t already, and it will continue to do so in the future. I really don’t want a future with anyone but him, though. I love him so much. I kind of hope he sees this, since he’s the one who told me about this website some time ago, because I’m sure he’ll see a lot of similarities, and hopefully he’ll realize that I am trying my very best because I think he’s worth it. I hope he’s patient with me, because I will make it worth it for him. He’s the most wonderful person I’ve ever met, kind, loving, and with many other wonderful qualities. If I lost him I would be pretty devastated. It wouldn’t be the first time a relationship ended, or the first time my heart was broken, but he’s really different, very special, a jewel of a person. I pray we’ll be able to have a great relationship and are able to make one another happy like I know we can and we have, without all the baggage. I try to tell him I’m over a lot of it and I have gotten better, but I have to work harder to make sure it’s not too little, too late. All I can hope is that he is patient and our love was meant to be, because if it is, I believe it will be. I believe that for you too. Sorry this was so long, but it really hit home – it was almost as if you were describing me and my situation. Thank you for posting this. Best of luck to you.

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  • thegypsysailor

    There's a saying that might help; "Engage brain before opening mouth".
    It's very similar with my gal and I when we're trying to quit smoking. We say hurtful things to one another and act totally irrationally, unlike when we're smoking. We try hard, but it just slips out at times. Needless to say, we're still smoking, but will try to quit again on new year's day. And we will try so very hard to "Engage brain before opening mouth".

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  • SHAKEStheClown

    I can't stand it I know you planned it
    I'm gonna set it straight, this watergate
    I can't stand rocking when I'm in here
    Because your crystal ball ain't so crystal clear
    So while you sit back and wonder why
    I got this fucking thorn in my side
    Oh my, it's a mirage
    I'm tellin' y'all it's sabotage

    So listen up 'cause you can't say nothin'
    You'll shut me down with a push of your button?
    But yo I'm out and I'm gone
    I'll tell you now I keep it on and on

    'cause what you see you might not get
    And we can bet so don't you get souped yet
    You're scheming on a thing that's a mirage
    I'm trying to tell you now it's sabotage

    Why; our backs are now against the wall
    Listen all of y'all it's a sabotage
    Listen all of y'all it's a sabotage
    Listen all of y'all it's a sabotage
    Listen all of y'all it's a sabotage

    I can't stand it, I know you planned it
    But I'm gonna set it straight this watergate
    But I can't stand rockin' when I'm in this place
    Because I feel disgrace because you're all in my face
    But make no mistakes and switch up my channel
    I'm buddy rich when I fly off the handle
    What could it be, it's a mirage
    You're scheming on a thing - that's sabotage

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