Most of us have been jealous of something before. Maybe you remember being a child and wanting something a friend or sibling had. Maybe you’ve even been jealous of someone more “popular” or someone with greater success on paper.

Some jealousy can be normal, as it typically fades away with time. However, for some people, jealousy is a real problem, especially in relationships. If you’re jealous of your partner in some way or find yourself jealous of others who might impact your relationship, it can create personal issues as well as a strain on your relationship.

Along with problems like low self-esteem and anxiety, jealousy can often lead to risk-taking behaviors. Let’s take a closer look at the link between the two, and what you can do to break the cycle while strengthening your relationship.

The Need to Be in Control

One of the biggest issues couples face when jealousy is involved is control. If you’re jealous of your partner, you might feel the need to constantly monitor them or “control” them somehow. These intrusive actions can lead to everything from constant questioning to forbidding them from having contact with certain people.

You might even start checking their phone for text messages or looking into their social media accounts. This isn’t just a risky behavior, but a violation of privacy that can damage the trust in your relationship.

Increased Conflict

Jealousy is often referred to as a “green-eyed monster,” so it should come as no surprise that it can cause conflict. Even if you’re typically a calm person, jealousy can lead to both verbal and physical escalations. Some research has suggested that partners who are jealous are more likely to engage in intimate violence.

Risky and Extreme Behaviors

Jealousy doesn’t just affect your partner and your relationship. It can impact your well-being, too. It’s not uncommon for jealous individuals in relationships to go to extremes to change their appearance. That might not seem risky at first. However, when things like diet pills or cosmetic surgeries are involved, it becomes very serious and potentially dangerous.

In addition to trying to “improve” the way you look, you might go to extremes to seek validation. Jealousy can lead to infidelity in relationships when you want to find reassurance that you’re attractive or wanted. Obviously, cheating creates a huge strain on relationships and can cause the trust between you and your partner to completely shatter. However, it also increases your risk of sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies.

How to Address Jealousy and Risk-Taking

If you want to extinguish the risk-taking behaviors in your relationship, you have to look at the source.

Again, it’s not necessarily uncommon to experience jealousy from time to time. However, if it is at the root of your relationship, that should be a red flag for both you and your partner. Boosting your self-awareness is the first step toward working through those issues. Going through couples counseling can help you dig deeper into those issues.

When you recognize the root of your jealousy, you can start to practice more open communication with your partner. Again, a counselor can help you if you find it difficult to be vulnerable or to talk about those deeply-rooted feelings. Whatever you do, don’t dismiss the importance of communication. It will help you both express your needs and concerns while building trust and intimacy within the relationship.

As you build trust, you’ll work on setting healthy boundaries. That will help both you and your partner meet each other’s needs while reducing the triggers that could be leading to excessive jealous thoughts.

If you need help breaking the cycle of jealousy and risk-taking behaviors in your relationship, we’re here for you. Don’t wait until one of those behaviors causes irreparable harm to you and your partner. Reach out today to set up an appointment.