Trust issues could be the most dreaded words in any relationship dictionary. Conquering a mountain or even a mere mold of trust issues in a relationship could be the hardest thing any couple has to face. Trust issues are born of past hurts and baggage that each partner carries with them onto the new relationship.
At times it could be as a result of the infidelities and lack of sincerity within the current relationship. The lack of trust is held in place by the fear of being betrayed, humiliated, taken advantage of or otherwise manipulated all over again. This perceived risk is haunting and could be overwhelming.
Trust issues are based on real-life experience, some of it probably originating in childhood, although most of it could be resulting from the experiences encountered in adulthood. Trust issues show up as a natural defense mechanism. Understanding the signs could prove beneficial in working through them.
Here are some of the signs that your relationship is suffering the symptoms of trust issues:
1. Unwarranted suspicion
If your relationship does not have either a track record of misdeeds or an incident that warrants suspicion or a lack of trust, then any hyper-awareness and curiosity from your partner should be treated as a sign of them having trust issues. People with trust issues tend to cast past experiences into the perceived future and therefore are always anticipating a breach of trust.
2. Trust without question
If your partner simply doesn't seem to understand the inner workings of trust then this could be a sign that they have trust issues. Trust should be earned, hence people who simply give trust without comprehending the implications or making any effort to ascertain its presence could be doing it out of sheer malice.
3. Questionable exes
People who have trust issues often tend to place their trust in those who are most likely to take advantage of them. Their trust issues at this point have become an emotional self-fulfilling prophecy as if they were unconsciously confirming just how untrustworthy people are. If your partner seems to have been with all the wrong people knowingly then this could be a screaming sign of embedded trust issues.
4. Closed and guarded
People who have experienced traumatic pasts or agonizing relationships that broke their trusts in people completely tend to be guarded and closed off when it comes to sharing their feelings. Simply put, it takes trust to open up and share your thoughts and feelings, however, if your partner feels like you will use their inward feelings against them at some point, then this could be a problem.
5. Your relationship is shallow
Even though both of you are very deep people, your relationship is based on very light issues that barely scratch the surface of intimacy. It is majorly based on external happenings that have totally nothing to do with your true feelings or real emotions. This is a sure sign that one or both partners are afraid of bearing themselves naked to hurt by openly sharing.
6. Afraid of commitment
Every time you want to move forward to a different step of the relationship, your partner seems unwilling to take that bold step with you? This could be a sign of them having trust issues. People with trust issues are afraid to commit emotionally for fear of the anticipated and inevitable loss of this connection.
7. Overreaction to genuine mistakes
Everybody makes mistakes at one point or another in their lives, even the perfect human beings tend to unknowingly hurt their partner's feelings. It's only human. However, if your partner has trust issues then they may not be able to tolerate your imperfections due to their ever-present prejudice of trust issues.
8. Your partner is impossible to please
People with trust issues always appear difficult and impossible to please. They are always moody and desperate. Every single move you make is viewed closely and totally misread. If you find yourself always having to explain your actions and your whereabouts then this could be a sign that your relationship is experiencing some trust issues.