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"It is a happy talent to know how to play."

Your Significant Other is NOT Your Emotional Slave.

1/14/2019

7 Comments

 
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Yesterday, I wrote about how there's a difference between helping a depressed friend and enabling an abuser. My intention was to inform those whose friends suffer from mental illness to be compassionate... but remember to think critically about your actions and the effects they may have on your friend and his/her partner. 

Today, I'm writing a quick reminder to those who are, or may be, affected by mental illness:

Your partner is not your emotional slave.

It's really easy to look back on childhood and feel nostalgic. Childhood is amazing. We have no responsibilities except to learn and have fun!

But you know what's really cool about not being in preschool anymore? 

The ability to regulate our own emotions. 

The ability to be independent. To calm ourselves down. To set our own bedtimes. To resolve our own issues. 

Another cool thing about adulthood is romantic relationships. I've been so, so lucky in love. I've had the best boyfriends. They were kind, loving, supportive, smart, fun, funny, and adventurous...

But they were not my emotional slaves.

Sure, if something really bad happened to me, I'd expect them to be there for me. 

But I would never demand that they soothe me while I have meltdowns every night, ongoingly, indefinitely. 

Sure, I love being cute and flirty and childish with them.

I may feel all the joy of a preschooler at play when I'm with my partner... but that doesn't mean I am actually in preschool again. It's still my responsibility to regulate my own emotions.

If there is something my partner can do to help, I tell him, because people aren't mind-readers, and it's not fair to expect them to be. And I do it directly, because I consider it my moral obligation to ignore passive aggression. 

But, ultimately, it is my responsibility to take care of myself. 

It's my responsibility to know when it is time to go to bed, because we both have work in the morning, and WE ARE ADULTS, NOT CHILDREN. 

Similarly, it's my responsibility to get to work on time. If some disagreement popped up over breakfast... who cares? There's, like, a 0.00001% chance this is an issue you need to resolve right now. Finish your eggs, hug it out, and get to work. You can talk about it later.

It's my responsibility to know when to end a fight, because right now, we're both too worked up and this isn't going anywhere. 

It's my responsibility to understand and respect my partner's emotions, too. If he needs a break from a difficult conversation, if he needs a night to himself -- hell, if he wants to go on vacation without me, it's my responsibility to respect that, too. (Though I'd definitely want to have a conversation about why he wanted that, to see if I could address any of his concerns or get the proper training before the trip or whatever.) 
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From: @TheHappyTalent on Instagram

Even though quality time is important, and even though everyone feels lonely or like they don't have enough friends sometimes, it's important to remember that he doesn't have to do absolutely everything with me, and I don't have to do absolutely everything with him. I'm a big girl. I can join my own frisbee team. I can drive myself to the party.

And... as a healthy, happy adult, it is my responsibility to myself to give friends and loved ones the benefit of a doubt. As I wrote in Next Time Someone Says Something That Hurts You, Ask Yourself These Two Questions:
We all get hurt by words that were not intended to hurt us. 

Which is why, every time someone says something that hurts you, you should ask yourself two questions, which Katie explains more fully in Loving What Is:

1. Is it true?
2. Are you sure?


Because, let's be real: most of the words that hurt us, weren't meant to hurt us. 

And, to use an analogy from one of my Idaho photos, l can assume the dog is yawning... or freak out, because it's trying to bite my face. Read more >





This is something I consider myself to be pretty good at... yet even I feel super embarrassed, sometimes, replaying a conversation in my head or re-reading a chat that turned into an argument -- all because someone said something that was clearly meant one way, but I took it another. 

Is it true? 

Are you sure? 

Is it true?

​Are you sure? 

If someone says something and you took it the wrong way and they apologized and clarified, then, as an adult, it's your responsibility not to pout, but to forgive and move on. (Or, if you can't forgive them, to end it. For more, check out Loving What Is.)
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​Another cool thing about being an adult is that you have developed your theory of mind, or the ability to attribute mental states — beliefs, intents, desires, emotions, knowledge, etc. — to oneself, AND to others. You're old enough to understand that others have beliefs, desires, intentions, and perspectives that are different from your own.

And, hopefully, you're old enough to understand that not everything your partner does is meant to hurt you. In fact, one of the most satisfying things you can do in a relationship is to take something that stung, some disappointment, and turn it into an act of love. 

​For example -- and this is about a friend, not a significant other, but still -- I was so excited about contra dancing the other weekend. It was a particularly uneventful weekend, so contra was basically the only thing I had to look forward to that Saturday.

When I messaged my friend, Paul, who'd agreed to go with me a week prior, he had some bad news: 

"I can go... but only until 9, because I have so much work this week."

Which is basically just one hour of dancing. I was really disappointed. I love dancing, and I love spending time with Paul. 

I could have been resentful. I could have made him feel more stressed than he already was (which, I suppose, short-term, achieves the vindictive, and childish goal of "punishing" him for his crime against me... but, long-term, I'd only be hurting myself, as I'd be making myself less fun to be with, meaning he'd want to spend even less time with me in the future).

But instead... I used my adult skills. I used my theory of mind, my compassion for someone other than myself. I thought about what a busy week he has coming up... and I wondered how I could help.

Basically, I can't. I can't make his job any easier. I can't make his work take any less time. I can't push back his deadlines. 

I can...

Show up with fresh fruit and enough prepared food to get him through the next few days, so he at least has one less thing to worry about. 

So that's what I did. 

He was surprised, and a little delighted, by the yummy gifts. But the best moment, for me, was when he took a bite of my teriyaki chicken and said, "I'm so excited to be going out. This will be really good for me."

It felt so much better than dragging him down, punishing him, or guilting him. 

In fact, every time I forgive someone, every time I show love or compassion instead of resentment, self-pity, and anger, I feel so amazing inside, I can't believe anyone would ever choose the alternative. (Even though, I guess, it's "easier"... and we've all got that instinct for idleness.)

It's vaguely what I was getting at in my original (which is also about basketball), "Respect the Call (Better to Forgive)."

Because, as adults, our friends, partners, and loved ones are not our emotional slaves. 

If we expect them to endlessly provide a shoulder to cry on...

Anticipate our each and every need...

Constantly be doing something to control our emotions...

Constantly sacrificing sleep and opportunities for fun, socialization, or travel...

We're not truly treating them like partners. We're treating them like emotional slaves. 

We're not acting like adults. We're acting like preschoolers.

If you truly require that much care, you may benefit from talk therapy or medication. It may be worth meeting with a professional to identify and prevent toxic thoughts and behaviors that keep you from behaving like an independent adult.

​It's... not easy. But it's possible. Social and emotional skills are just that: skills. You're not born with them, but you're born able to learn them. Sure, some people learn them more easily than others... just like some people need a math tutor.

​For your own sake, and for your partner's sake, it's worth trying to learn them.
7 Comments
Concerned mutual friend
1/16/2019 01:03:49 pm

I think I know exactly what (or who) inspired you to write this. I am concerned, too, and I feel SO BAD and very worried about him.

Reply
kuu
1/17/2019 02:28:36 am

so this means if i have a lovvie with more mental illnesses than I do, that have more behavioral problems, when things get to hard i can take a break and it's no problem?

or just not date someone with a severe cocktail of disordrs and personality disorders like BPD because I think I know what i read about it and don't want to deal with it. and it's being a good person? what a relief.

Reply
Eva Glasrud link
1/17/2019 11:44:42 am

It's good to support your partner, but you can't sacrifice yourself to do it. If it's draining your life force, messing up your career, or making you less mentally or physically healthy, then yes -- TAKE A BREAK. If your partner is so sick that they can't handle you taking care of yourself occasionally, they need the kind of help you can't possibly provide, unless you're also their psychiatrist.

If you don't want to date someone with a severe cocktail of disorders, then don't. You don't HAVE to date someone who has traits and characteristics you find undesirable. And if you were in a normal, healthy thing with someone and then it got really abnormal and unhealthy, you need to be able to set your own boundaries to keep yourself sane -- and you need to know when to call it quits.

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Cally
8/20/2019 07:17:57 am

I have BPD and I have a deep yearning and longing to be able to do and say and think everything she mentioned in her blog. However I am 100% the "preschooler" in her example. I hate it every day and I wish every day I could be different. I am so aware of how terrible I treat those I love and I hate it. I wish I was ignorant in that way. Sometimes I think my understanding of how I am is to my detriment because people assume I can just "be different." One minute I am so set on changing then in the next minute, when my feelings are hurt, if I verbally attack or act in any other ridiculous way I feel 100% justified because of how hurt I feel and in my mind I just need to make it even and settle the score. Then moments later I'm okay again and I'm wondering why my boyfriend isn't over it too.

Thanks for being caring about BPD. It made me feel good knowing people feel like this. (Regardless of how sassy it was lol!)

Reply
Sam
1/20/2019 07:44:04 am

This blog appeared on my page because an ex sent me it. I ended it because he was talking and accusing me of stuff I can’t help doing. I’m registered bipolar and he demanded with the same tone you use in the blog that I stop doing all the stuff that git me registered bipolar. (It int how my head works. I can’t stop being me and doing what I do anymore than anyone else registered bi polar 1 can. Our brains function very different from normal peoples brains. And I really wouldn’t want to be one of those same as everyone else sheep that both him and you want us all to be.
I’m guessing you have no psychiatrist or psychological training and know only a tiny bit or almost nothing about mentally disabled people. I have never met a person who is actually diagnosed with bipolar or schizophrenia who does what you accuse us of doing. This rant you had here then call it a happiness blog is really damaging and vile for me to readi couldn’t read the whole thing because it made me feel the same as I felt when the kids at school bullied me.
You really sound like you have mental illness not disability but illness. You sound like my mum who didn’t believe my diagnosis threw my pills down the toilet said no kid of mines mentally retarded (how is passing 10 gcse 4a levels afirst class BA with honours retarded?) I’m not retarded on that she was correct. She and you are ignorant about the other stuff. I wonder if you’re partner even had a mental disability or was it you who said he did? If he has you can leave. If I was your partner I imagine that I would be better off alone
I always introduce myself as Sam , then say I’m your worst nightmare . If I don’t like the sound or looks or behaviour of someone gives me the creeps I tell them straight out I’m bipolar 1 autistic with adhd and they thought wrongly that I was a daydreamer cheeky rude and shy
I just read it again and still this blog doesn’t make sense to me. I’m presuming she is speaking to people like me but I’m finding it abusive that a psychologist or someone who thinks she’s a councillor maybe is doing the impossible and also politically incorrect.
She says something that to me can’t be done. If I could control my thinking my actions my behaviour I would never have been diagnosed.
You wouldn’t dream of shouting at a blind person you are standing on my feet and hurting me constantly plese stop they also can’t stop doing that. Don’t you understand why we have disability diagnosis? It’s because our thinking or behaviour is is not normal or socially acceptable and we all wish we could change a lot of us don’t go out our places we live because the world tells us stuff like I just read.
Your blog and this website actually made me feel suicidal. I’m not playing on your emotions to hurt you either. I’m saying it because the tiny bit of confidence I gained since I been usin somemindfulness Apps my Apple Watch and a yoga app . All that has gone. After reading your writing I feel worse than I have since I lived with my mum who treated me by saying things like you say here. I’m guessing you don’t have psychological counselling training of any type and probably no experience of knowing people with mental disability disorders because if you did you would not have written this way in the first place. Unless of course you are a psychopath and they really don’t care if they hurt others and they enjoy it
I wanna say to you it’s simple, instead of blaming me or people like me just in future if you meet someone with mental disability know you can’t cope you aren’t mentally strong enough to deal with us so don’t. Go get a normal partner instead n please don’t right anymore of these dangerous harmful blaming and shaming the mentally disabled because one of us could commit suicide because of your words.

Reply
Eva link
1/20/2019 10:44:54 am

I'm sorry to hear my blog post made you feel that way. Please let me elaborate on a few things:

No, I wouldn't yell at a blind person for being blind. But there's a difference between blindness, and requiring glasses to see. This post was meant to be more like glasses or a hearing aid, than a cure for blindness or deafness. Mental illnesses/disabilities exist on a spectrum.

Another thing to remember is that some people who behave this way towards their partners are using their disability as a crutch, as a way to avoid taking accountability or to excuse unacceptable behavior. For those people, it is good to have some perspective.

And I don't think that sounds like you. Through mindfulness practice and yoga, you've gained skills and confidence, and I think that is SO awesome. You are clearly not the person this post is about, because the person this post is about wouldn't make an effort to improve him or herself. Instead, he/she would just blame others for every shortcoming.

This is a post about accountability and autonomy. Research on the topic shows that a higher sense of autonomy is good for you, pretty much whatever your situation. It is easy for people to fall into patterns of complacency and dependence, and this is just a reminder that we can all do more to treat our partners better and hold ourselves to a higher standard.

It's messed up that your mom did that. She was clearly wrong to do so (who messes with another person's medications? is she your doctor? then she had no right), wrong to suggest that seeking help for your conditions was somehow the wrong thing to do (when, in fact, it's brave), and wrong that you're "retarded," as empirically that is just incorrect, as proven by your achievements. It sounds like she may have some mental health issues of her own to deal with.

Reply
Claire
1/21/2019 01:04:49 pm

Thank you for posting this. I will be sharing it with at least a couple of friends whose SOs seem to have mistaken them for a babysitter or preschool teacher. For me one thing that resonated was the part about knowing when to end a fight. I have dated people who feel like the fight must be resolved before anything else happens, and they will want to stay up late or get to work late. It is immature, you are right, but it says something about the person that they feel that level of urgency over every minor conflict.

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    Eva is a content specialist with a passion for play, travel... and a little bit of girl power.  Read more >


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