Had an argument today
So my girlfriend and I got into a small argument today. She was very upset. I have just been very tired and exhausted the past few days and haven’t been so talkative. She kept asking if there was something wrong bc something felt off. I tried to explain I was just not in an overly talkative mood. Well this morning she was in the shower and saw my beard hairs on her razor. She asked me 3 times if I used and joking I answered no because I thought she could tell it was my hair. However, to get it didn’t come off as a joke to her and she got mad. Well I went in to her work and we were fine but then she brought up how I obviously had a problem and that I have a pattern of telling her I don’t when I do.
now I have been going to therapy for it because she was right but since I started I have been very forthcoming when I am upset or bugged by something. However, this was not the case. But she brought up how I have been quiet and all the things that made her feel like I was upset. To be honest, if anything I just feel overwhelmed with things outside of our relationship but I think I am reflecting it upon her by being quiet. However, when I do wanna talk or need her she barely responds to my texts and what not. She’s not like this in person but I feel like I’ve just been giving and giving and not that she’s doing anything wrong, but I do feel like she doesn’t listen always when I tell her my needs or wants. I just kind of feel like a second option vs a priority. Again, she isn’t doing anything out of the norm for her nor am I.
so fast forward, we had an argument, she didn’t want to talk and I left bc she said me lying to her about the hair in the razor made her question things. After I left she texted me and apologized and said it we’d talk more when we got home. Well we did and she stated that she was butthurt and just saying things bc she was feeling some type of way about my responses. I listened, and said my side and told her I was kidding and I apologize if she felt like I was lying. But my intentions have never been to make her question me or us or to break her trust. She said it’s not that she doesn’t trust me, it just made her feel some type of way because it was over something small. Which believe me, I get! However we patched it up and she hugged me, kissed me but I felt like she still had stuff she wanted to say bc her face told me she did. I asked and she said no and she said it was fine but has seemed distant. She is feeling bad and has a cold I think but she’s just been a little more cold shouldered.
how do I navigate through this?
@dcromer3 Have you spoken to you therapist about what is going on? I bet they would have some awesome communication and conflict resolution tools to share with you, and you can even discuss bringing your girlfriend in with you to have a structured non-judgmental environment to discuss your issues with someone who can coach you through how to discuss uncomfortable issues and how to cope with big feelings while you're having a challenging discussion.
The one piece of advice I would be willing to give her is that if you don't practice it already, maybe have a conversational 'safe word' of sorts, or a standing agreement to take a break (for an agreed upon amount of time, can be changed each time). Difficult discussions are already difficult, especially when they're surrounding a touchy subject. Adding an emotionally charged environment does nothing but add extra hurdles on the way to mutual resolution. Stepping away can help discharge that tension to make way for a more calm and mindful discussion of the issues at hand, preventing us from wording things poorly and saying things we don't mean or feel in the heat of the moment.
Best of luck and remember, you got this!