Asking
Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE »

I’m asking for Honest Answers Only

I’m a guy.
I know I have what might be considered toxic traits, and that I’m not as vulnerable as I should be with the woman I love.
I have all types of past trauma. All manners of intimacy and trust issues. All of which I have fully declared.

But my girlfriend comes to me with things she calls “Her Feelings”
I keep getting defensive because Her Feelings seem accusatory and pointed.

My questions are as follows:
1.) How do I tell the difference between her feelings and manipulation?
2.) Having been as honest as possible, how responsible am I for managing these feelings that strike me as complaints disguised as feelings?
3.) what can I do to temper my responses so that she doesn’t feel like I am being defensive or dismissive?

I’ll listen to any advice at all that seems honest and genuinely posted in an attempt to be helpful.

Jokes, sarcasm, and derisive replies will be deleted and I will block the sender.

I’ve spent more than a year and a half reading communication and self help books. I just started therapy sessions. Because these types of things matter to me and I want to figure it all out.

So please, come real and correct to this post if that’s possible. If not, please scroll on by.

Your reply doesn’t need to support or appease me. I welcome the things I would rather not hear. I just don’t have the patience for stupid shit.

Thanks,
Rob
This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »
Remington · 51-55, M
I would be careful about classifying any of your traits as "toxic" too quickly. That framework could be tool number one in a manipulative woman's tool kit. Being masculine is not toxic in the sense that feminist portray it. Toxic often means "I cannot manipulate him" for manipulative women. That being said, you may have some areas you need to work on, but you need to define those with some honest self-reflection. She is not the person to define those traits for you. She has areas she needs to work on too (we all do) and she needs to work those out with honest self-reflections as well. If she is either not willing to do that or if she does admit to having issues, but that your issues are worse than hers, then that is a sign of manipulation. We all have areas we have to continually mature in. If she is always trying to "fix" you, that's sure sign she is not dealing with her own issues. Many women will use feelings to manipulate.

Manipulation is about control. There are reasonable expectations couples can have for one another. There should be some boundaries especially when it comes to other people who could work against your relationship. You would need to both agree on fair and honest parameters concerning your relationship and both agree to be held to those standards. The moment one of you expects the other to adhere to boundaries, but don't adhere to them yourself, that's manipulation. One of the worst things you can do as a man is to lose your self-identity to please her. The minute to do that, she will lose respect for you and try to dominate you. She will likely try to test you to see if you will submit to her or give in to her too often. Every now and then is ok, but set firm limits and let her know you are volunteering to move her direction for the moment, but it goes both ways. She's got to play fair too. Just know you will have to resist her manipulation often and consistently. You don't have to be mean or ugly about it. Actually the more calm and purposeful you can be the better.

If her "feelings" are accusatory and pointed, that is a concern, bro. I would suggest one thing you could do is when she come to you like that, let her know you hear her and then ask her in what ways she could be doing things that are working against your relationship or "hurting" you. Listen to what she says, if she can't come up with anything or if she downplays things she does, that's huge red flag.

Did you start therapy sessions at her request or demand? If you did, has she also started therapy? If you're going to therapy at her request and she is not, that's another problem my friend. Is your therapist male or female? There are some great female therapist, but I would find a male. Is your therapist telling you that you have "toxic" traits? I would be very suspicious if they did. That is a cultural buzzword right now. If your therapist cannot use a more clinical term that has a specific and clear definition, I would be careful there too.

Just some thoughts.
HikingMan · 51-55, M
@Remington Thank you for this.
Truly.

I started therapy on my own and in my own manner. I've wanted it for years but just recently secured the funding for 6 months of it. I can't afford therapy on my own and have searched for a decade to find real therapy because I felt it could help me deal with my underlying issues,

The toxic traits thing is a me thing at this point. All I've done in therapy is an intake session where he and I got to know each other..

I thank you for your honest thoughts.