This article was written by Moshe Ratson, MFT, PCC and by How.com.vn staff writer, Glenn Carreau. Moshe Ratson is the Executive Director of spiral2grow Marriage & Family Therapy, a coaching and therapy clinic in New York City. Moshe is an International Coach Federation accredited Professional Certified Coach (PCC). He received his MS in Marriage and Family Therapy from Iona College. Moshe is a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), and a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF).
There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Have you found yourself thinking, “It feels like my wife hates me, but I don’t know why” lately? Do you wish you could figure out what’s going on and fix it? It’s never easy to grapple with the fear that your wife’s feelings may have changed—but it’s still possible to find a solution. The best way to overcome those worries is to figure out what’s happening and make changes in your marriage for the better, and we’re here to help you do it. Read on for a list of potential signs and reasons your wife might be acting like she hates you, plus tips on rekindling the love between you.
This article is based on an interview with our marriage and family therapist, Moshe Ratson. Check out the full interview here.
Things You Should Know
- Your wife may resent you if she feels neglected, or she may feel like she’s been forced to take on too many responsibilities without any support from you.
- However, it’s also possible your wife might only seem to hate you because she’s stressed about something else or depressed.
- Discuss the situation with her and listen attentively to determine what’s wrong. Focus on meeting her needs and spending quality time together.
Steps
What to Do If Your Wife Hates You
- Discuss the problem and listen to her side of the story attentively. Lack of communication can lead to many problems for a relationship, so make sure you know what’s causing all the negative emotions. Sit down with your wife, tell her that you’ve noticed things are different between you lately, and ask her if there’s something wrong. Hear her out, and actively listen to her to show that you care about her feelings.
- Give her a safe space to vent. It’s possible she’s not really angry at you and needs to get something off her chest, so don’t get upset before you know what’s happening.
- Even if the issue concerns you, try not to get angry or defensive. Her feelings are valid, and she needs to express them freely. You’ll have time to respectfully discuss any issues you might have too.
- Work on yourself and follow through on your promises. Do you have any toxic traits or habits that may have affected the marriage? After discovering what’s been bothering your wife, reflect on your behavior and determine what you can work on. Commit to making positive changes, and follow through on them. Show your wife that you’re serious about being a better partner and that you’re someone she can trust.[25]
- For example, say you haven’t been very affectionate lately, and it’s been making her feel neglected. To fix this, consider how you could be more openly loving toward her!
- Do you know her love language? Ask! Find out how she wants to be loved and incorporate that into your behavior, whether she needs more words of affirmation or physical touch.
- For example, say you haven’t been very affectionate lately, and it’s been making her feel neglected. To fix this, consider how you could be more openly loving toward her!
- Be present and communicative with her. If you’re gone a lot (or mentally checked out when you’re with her), it can make your wife feel resentful, neglected, or even self-conscious. Focus on being more present in your marriage! Try to spend more time with her than you were spending before—and, when you can’t spend time with her, make an effort to stay in contact and communicate every day.[26]
- For example, say you need to go to an overnight conference for work. You might not get to spend that time with your wife, but you can still show her that she’s a priority by calling her later to say hello and ask about her day.
- Spend quality time together as a couple. Sometimes, life happens—you both get busy, have other commitments, or just come home feeling tired every day, and before you know it, you don’t really spend much time with each other. Bring some love and affection back into the marriage by planning quality time with your wife—including dates, trips, or simply quiet time to catch up with one another.[27]
- For example, plan exciting date nights where the two of you try an activity you’ve never done before—or suggest picking up a new hobby that you can work on together!
- Show gratitude and appreciation for her efforts. Feeling unappreciated can really dampen the love between partners, so make sure your wife knows how thankful you are for her. Take note of all her contributions and be sure to express gratitude for each of them; if she knows you don’t take her for granted and notice the little things she does for you, she’ll likely also feel loved.[28]
- For example, if your wife leaves work early to bring you to an important appointment, thank her. Keep it simple: “Thank you for doing this! I appreciate you taking the time to help me out.”
- Does your wife ever tackle one of your chores or make coffee exactly how you like it? Thank her. Say something like, “I just want you to know that I appreciate all the small things you do for me. You’re so thoughtful!”
- Take a break from one another if necessary. In some cases, distance really does make the heart grow fonder. You and your wife may need a short time apart to get some clarity on the situation. Spend that time thinking about what you really want from the marriage (and ask her to do the same). Do you both really want to continue living with resentment or hatred? Or do you want to forgive one another and move forward?
- When you come back together, you’ll better understand your needs and expectations in the future.
- Be sure to let your wife know you’re still committed to the marriage, even if you bring up the idea of a break.
- When the break is over, discuss the situation with her once more; share what you really want from the marriage, and ask her for her thoughts as well.
- Seek couples therapy from a professional. A couple’s therapist can mediate talks between you and your wife, listen to your problems, and help you work through them as a team. Counseling is a safe space for both of you to express your feelings, with your therapist there to offer a fresh (and impartial) perspective. In short, therapy is an extremely valuable resource—and may help save your marriage in the end.
- In fact, therapy can be helpful even to couples that aren’t going through rocky patches. It’s often comforting and helpful to have neutral ground to discuss whatever is on your mind!
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References
- ↑ https://togethercouplescounseling.com/4-signs-of-resentment-in-your-relationship/
- ↑ https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/resentment
- ↑ https://togethercouplescounseling.com/4-signs-of-resentment-in-your-relationship/
- ↑ https://togethercouplescounseling.com/4-signs-of-resentment-in-your-relationship/
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/better-divorce/202108/8-signs-partner-may-want-divorce
- ↑ https://www.visioncounselling.com.au/resentment-in-relationships/
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/better-divorce/202108/8-signs-partner-may-want-divorce
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/better-divorce/202108/8-signs-partner-may-want-divorce
- ↑ https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/parents-may-underestimate-impact-involving-adolescent-children-conflicts/
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/better-divorce/202108/8-signs-partner-may-want-divorce
- ↑ https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/resentment
- ↑ https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/resentment
- ↑ https://www.visioncounselling.com.au/resentment-in-relationships/
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/better-divorce/202108/8-signs-partner-may-want-divorce
- ↑ https://extension.usu.edu/relationships/faq/are-you-comfortable-or-complacent-with-your-partner
- ↑ https://psychcentral.com/health/ways-to-stop-resentment-from-ruining-your-relationship
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5067079/
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/6-reasons-resentment-creeps-into-your-relationships-and-what-to-do-about-it/
- ↑ https://www.visioncounselling.com.au/resentment-in-relationships/
- ↑ https://www.visioncounselling.com.au/resentment-in-relationships/
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/6-reasons-resentment-creeps-into-your-relationships-and-what-to-do-about-it/
- ↑ https://psychcentral.com/health/what-is-projection
- ↑ https://adaa.org/finding-help/helping-others/spouse-or-partner
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/divorce-busting/202212/the-2-real-reasons-youve-fallen-out-of-love
- ↑ https://psychcentral.com/health/ways-to-stop-resentment-from-ruining-your-relationship
- ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=1&contentid=4580
- ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=1&contentid=4580
- ↑ https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/resentment
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