Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Does Walking on Eggshells Mean?Signs of Walking on EggshellsHow to Deal With Walking on Eggshells
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Does Walking on Eggshells Mean?
Signs of Walking on Eggshells
How to Deal With Walking on Eggshells
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In ideal relationships, communication with a partner is expected to be open, freeing, and easy to maneuver. A significant other often takes the role of confidant and best friend, one with whom very little is off-limits.
When you’re in ahealthy relationship, it isn’t very difficult to predict the moods and preferences of your partner. With no one to fear, one partner’s missteps are easily addressed without malice from either side.
If this bears no resemblance to relationships you’ve shared, there are chances that interactions with previous partners often required complicated mind work, careful analysis of your composure, and often bated breath while waiting for their next words.
It isn’t always obvious that exchanges with your significant other tend to leave you scared to approach them. However, if you’re often hesitant to respond or excessively mindful of your actions around your partner, this could mean that you tend to walk on eggshells around them.
In this guide, we’ll look into theunhealthy relationshipdynamic that compels one person to act overly cautious in the presence of their partner. To ensure that the first signs of this behavior are not missed, we’ll also identify pointers of and ways to deal with a relationship while walking on eggshells.
The same way an egg demands delicate treatment to avoid cracks in its frame, a person that walks on eggshells around their partner will observe considerable caution to avoid upsetting them. This upset could manifest in angry outbursts, or talking down to a partner in response to a perceived slight.
In this dynamic, one partner’s mood often swings from happy to mildly annoyed, or even angry at the slightest shift in the other’s tone. This places one partner on shaky grounds at all times, causing them to bend over backward to avoid an imminent complaint orchange in mood.
These complaints or mood changes may be spontaneous, excessive, and can stretch on for lengthy periods of time.
A person who causes another to resort to eggshell behavior is often guilty of emotional abuse,as one partner is placed on high alert to the other’s next moves.
It is a sinister form of control, one that targets the psychological well-being of another while tending to subdue them.
Emotional abuse can be covert, making it an easy-to-miss form ofpartner violence. However, there are stand-out behaviors where one partner tends to tread carefully around the other to avoid trouble.
These signs include:
Causing others to walk on eggshells is a red flag for toxic behavior and can lead to an endless cycle of mistreatment and abuse.
If you or a loved one are a victim of domestic violence, contact theNational Domestic Violence Hotlineat1-800-799-7233for confidential assistance from trained advocates.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you or a loved one are a victim of domestic violence, contact theNational Domestic Violence Hotlineat1-800-799-7233for confidential assistance from trained advocates.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Effects ofemotional abusesuch as the learned fear of one’s partner may lead to conditions like depression and anxiety. This abuse has been the basis of self-esteem issues in victims,and may notably cause feelings of loneliness. In this case, discussing the harm and pain endured in the relationship with others becomes too difficult or even embarrassing to bear.
When dealing with a partner who is a constant source of tension, below are ways to protect and safely extract yourself from the situation.
Communicate With Your Partner
If your partner recently shifted from being caring, communicative, and receptive to your needs, to the reason youwake up tensefrom sleep—this change might be something that needs to be discussed as a couple.
This is especially recommended if the switch in behavior is linked to current stressors like an upcoming promotion, or perhaps family difficulties. Finding a calm moment to share how their reactions affect you and your relationship could help with enforcing a change.
Should they be receptive and apologetic about past behavior, a visit to acouples’ counselorshould be recommended to avoid repeating a toxic cycle. This can also help to navigate the trauma of their behavior.
However, if you’ve attempted to communicate with your partner and your concerns are met with resistance or anger, it’s advisable to consider ending the relationship.
How to Exit an Abusive Relationship Safely
Figure Out Your True Emotional Needs
Breaking things off with a partner—especially one who has been mistreating you can be very daunting.
To clarify the importance of stepping away from an unhealthy relationship, visualizing your ideal partnering can help to set things in motion.
A partner whose presence doesn’t instill fear, one who is able to handle anger without directing it your way, eager to apologize when wrong, and who is above all kind to you, is a prospect worth pushing for the end of an abusive situation.
Speak to Friends and Family for Support
Because it can sometimes take a village, reach out to friends and family for support if you’ve decided to leave a toxic relationship.
Whether it’s for help witha place to stayafter ending things or a shoulder to cry on during tough days, added strength from others can soften the strain and strengthen resolve.
Advise Your Partner to Get Professional Help
When a partner chooses to be abusive, victims should feel no obligation toward fixing them. However, if and only if you feel safe enough to do so, suggesting to your partner that they seek help might prevent them from mistreating others in the future.
Speak to a Therapist
The psychological scars left from an emotionally abusive relationship can run deep. Sometimes, support from friends and family may not be enough to aid you in your healing process.
Speaking with a professionalcan help with navigating the pain and trauma endured in an abusive relationship. In therapy, you can also address any other mental issues that have developed as a result of the trauma and learn healthy coping mechanisms.
A Word From Verywell
Relationships can offer a safe, warm embrace from the craziness of the world. In some cases, however, these pairings can cause the most negative imbalances in your mental and physical well-being. Such situations are unhealthy and unsustainable for any relationship dynamic. If you find that you’re in an unhealthy relationship dynamic, there’s no shame inseeking therapy.
How to Leave a Toxic Relationship in 6 Steps
2 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Karakurt G, Silver KE.Emotional abuse in intimate relationships: the role of gender and age.Violence Vict. 2013;28(5):804-821. doi:10.1891/0886-6708.vv-d-12-00041Copp JE, Giordano PC, Longmore MA, Manning WD.Stay-or-Leave Decision Making in Nonviolent and Violent Dating Relationships.Violence Vict. 2015;30(4):581-599. doi:10.1891/0886-6708.VV-D-13-00176
2 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Karakurt G, Silver KE.Emotional abuse in intimate relationships: the role of gender and age.Violence Vict. 2013;28(5):804-821. doi:10.1891/0886-6708.vv-d-12-00041Copp JE, Giordano PC, Longmore MA, Manning WD.Stay-or-Leave Decision Making in Nonviolent and Violent Dating Relationships.Violence Vict. 2015;30(4):581-599. doi:10.1891/0886-6708.VV-D-13-00176
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Karakurt G, Silver KE.Emotional abuse in intimate relationships: the role of gender and age.Violence Vict. 2013;28(5):804-821. doi:10.1891/0886-6708.vv-d-12-00041Copp JE, Giordano PC, Longmore MA, Manning WD.Stay-or-Leave Decision Making in Nonviolent and Violent Dating Relationships.Violence Vict. 2015;30(4):581-599. doi:10.1891/0886-6708.VV-D-13-00176
Karakurt G, Silver KE.Emotional abuse in intimate relationships: the role of gender and age.Violence Vict. 2013;28(5):804-821. doi:10.1891/0886-6708.vv-d-12-00041
Copp JE, Giordano PC, Longmore MA, Manning WD.Stay-or-Leave Decision Making in Nonviolent and Violent Dating Relationships.Violence Vict. 2015;30(4):581-599. doi:10.1891/0886-6708.VV-D-13-00176
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