I want to start by saying it's taken a lot for me to post this here, I try to remain upbeat on here but I'm really struggling at the moment and don't know where to turn.
My partner and I have been together for 7 years, 8 in August. He's fab. We very rarely argue and when we do it's over and done with within an hour or less. I can count on one hand the number of arguments we've had in our relationship. However, I've constantly got a niggling feeling in my gut that he's going to find someone else. He's not even done anything to make me feel this way, he's never cheated, never spoken to other women online, nothing like that. I believe I feel this way because of my own self doubt and lack of confidence.
I'm really struggling to come to terms with my weight, I'm not even a big girl, size 12/14 max. However when we got together I was a 6/8 so I know I've put weight on. I don't feel comfortable taking my clothes off around him, no matter how much he tells me he loves my body just the way it is. I daren't get intimate unless the lights are off. In addition to that, he's an extrovert and I'm very introverted. This has never been an issue in the past, as I've always found we compliment each other well in social situations, he speaks for me when he knows I'm not comfortable, but not in an overpowering or controlling way. In more of a "I know you're not comfortable so I'll remove the awkwardness for you" kind of way. Lockdown has had me thinking, I'm terrified that when this all ends and we're allowed to socialise again he will be fed up of being with the quiet one, and will come across someone more extroverted who he doesn't need to take care of in social situations.
I know I probably sound so pathetic, but I'm really struggling with learning to love myself. I've spoken to him about this and he's done nothing but reassure me that he loves me, only me, and just the way I am, but I can't shake the feeling that I'm not good enough, or he'll find someone better. He did however express that it's difficult for him to be constantly feeling like he needs to reassure me when he's never even thought about anybody else, which I totally understand.
I guess what I'm asking, is how do I learn to love myself so that I can stop myself potentially destroying my relationship?
My partner and I have been together for 7 years, 8 in August. He's fab. We very rarely argue and when we do it's over and done with within an hour or less. I can count on one hand the number of arguments we've had in our relationship. However, I've constantly got a niggling feeling in my gut that he's going to find someone else. He's not even done anything to make me feel this way, he's never cheated, never spoken to other women online, nothing like that. I believe I feel this way because of my own self doubt and lack of confidence.
I'm really struggling to come to terms with my weight, I'm not even a big girl, size 12/14 max. However when we got together I was a 6/8 so I know I've put weight on. I don't feel comfortable taking my clothes off around him, no matter how much he tells me he loves my body just the way it is. I daren't get intimate unless the lights are off. In addition to that, he's an extrovert and I'm very introverted. This has never been an issue in the past, as I've always found we compliment each other well in social situations, he speaks for me when he knows I'm not comfortable, but not in an overpowering or controlling way. In more of a "I know you're not comfortable so I'll remove the awkwardness for you" kind of way. Lockdown has had me thinking, I'm terrified that when this all ends and we're allowed to socialise again he will be fed up of being with the quiet one, and will come across someone more extroverted who he doesn't need to take care of in social situations.
I know I probably sound so pathetic, but I'm really struggling with learning to love myself. I've spoken to him about this and he's done nothing but reassure me that he loves me, only me, and just the way I am, but I can't shake the feeling that I'm not good enough, or he'll find someone better. He did however express that it's difficult for him to be constantly feeling like he needs to reassure me when he's never even thought about anybody else, which I totally understand.
I guess what I'm asking, is how do I learn to love myself so that I can stop myself potentially destroying my relationship?