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When Your Partner Gives More Than You Can Return | Psychology Today

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Unrequited love is a common human heartache. Few of us ever escape the grief and longing when we want our partners to love us as much as we love them. The plight of the rejected, forlorn lover has been well-explored throughout history. Few people, however, have sympathy for the partner who is loved too much. To most others they seem to have little to complain about. Though they may agree outwardly that they are indeed fortunate, they silently can feel smothered and obligated. Buried in the over-giving of their devoted partners, they don’t feel the right to complain or entitled to the sympathy of others: These typical comments continue to reinforce the guilt that over-loved partners feel, already uncomfortable in the differences of devotion, need, or commitment that exist in the relationship. Though they may be grateful for the indulgence, they feel guilty for their inability to reciprocate in kind and fearful that they are incurring an invisible, non-payable debt. If the imbalance is n

Randi Gunther Ph.D. Rediscovering Love Relationships When Your Partner Gives More Than You Can Return How to restore the giving/receiving balance in a relationship. Posted October 20, 2012 | Reviewed by Lybi Ma Share Tweet Share on Bluesky Share Email THE BASICS Why Relationships Matter Take our Can You Spot Red Flags In A Relationship? Find a therapist to strengthen relationships Key points The imbalance of one partner giving more than the other can make the less-giving recipient feel obligated. When giving becomes too imbalanced, the relationship can eventually break down. Having an open and

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