Seeking Support: Recurring Dismissal of Emotional Needs
Hi everyone,
I'm struggling today and have been for a while with a recurring issue in my relationship. After a minor fender bender today, I was hoping for some emotional support from my partner, like a comforting hug, but instead, I felt dismissed. This isn't the first time. My partner often sees my requests for emotional support as unnecessary or "dumb," stating they won't "reward me" and are not responsible for my emotions. It's really painful to feel invalidated like this, especially when I'm already feeling down.
This pattern is really taking a toll on me, especially during times when I just need some understanding and comfort. How do you handle a partner who doesn't provide the emotional support you need? Any advice on communicating better or coping strategies would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for listening. Your thoughts and support would mean a lot to me.
@yellowOcean1030 “Reward you”? You’re not a pet. Your partner on the other hand could use some training.
That’s what I was thinking…like how am I asking to be rewarded or making them responsible for my emotions when I’m just asking for some indication that they support me even though I made a mistake or even just a small sign of reassurance. It made me feel crazy like is it not normal to expect some kind of emotional support (even just a hug) when I am clearly upset and recognizing I made a stupid mistake. But they said I need to reflect and figure out why I feel like I need that.
@yellowOcean1030 Sounds like your partner’s behavior is the straight up definition of gaslighting.