Subtle Signs That Indicate You Have Trust Issues

In almost every scenario you find yourself in, trust plays a key role in the health of your relationships.

Let's take five minutes to see this week in a new light. By Wendy Rose Gould & Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Top of Mind Subtle Signs That Indicate You Have Trust Issues     In almost every scenario you find yourself in, trust plays a key role in the health of your relationships. It's crucial in your romantic partnership, the friendships you have, work interactions, and family relationships. Having a lack of faith in other people can be detrimental to your overall happiness and put your connections in jeopardy, as well.   Trust has been described as a firm belief in the ability, strength, reliability, and truth of someone or something." — KENDRA CHERRY, MS    Common Signs of Trust Issues While trust issues are sometimes clear, more often than not they're a bit more "under the radar." Here are some common signs you struggle with trust issues: You assume the worst: By assuming the worst, you can't be disappointed when someone disappoints or fails you.   You focus on the negative: You fixate on what could go wrong or zoom in on others' flaws and weaknesses. You feel suspicious: You often question someone's intentions and behaviors, even if they've never given you a reason to doubt them before.   You struggle to forgive: You dwell on both small slights and major grievances and find it very difficult to forgive and forget.   You distance yourself: This self-sabotage is often a subconscious move and a way to protect yourself. After all, when you avoid getting close to someone then they can't hurt you.   Your relationships aren't fulfilling: This might look like short-lived relationships, volatile friendships, or relationships where you keep an arm's length between you and cannot connect deeply. How to Overcome Trust Issues  Ultimately, our inability to trust others is a form of self-protection and often stems from previous betrayals. Though difficult to overcome, resolving our trust issues can help us lead healthier, happier, more fulfilling lives.   The first step in overcoming trust issues is acknowledging—and even sharing—this struggle with others. Being vulnerable can help them understand you better and sets a foundation for improved trust.   Next, try to relinquish some control in your relationships and make a concerted effort to not assume the worst outcome. Learning how much control you should yield in a given situation is key to building trust with other people.   Finally, soften your walls to make allowances for human mistakes. Nobody will ever be perfect 100% of the time. Therapy can also help you explore some of the deep-seated trust issues you have so that you can better foster healthy relationships.     On the Bright Side Ways to Stay Positive This Week Ways to Nurture Your Mind and Body  This week, take 15 minutes to examine your relationships by answering these questions: Do you think trust issues might play a role in how fulfilling your connections are? If so, why do you think you struggle to wholly trust the other person? What is something you can do this week to foster trust in these relationships? What is the benefit of taking that step/making that change?   Written by LMFT Rachael Chapman, "Healthy Relationships" provides simple, practical, proven techniques for improving any relationship in your life. From expressing affection to being mindful of your own mistrust in others, the book helps you take care of yourself and the people you care about. Fluytco's Building Blocks help you build trust among co-workers. The cards feature 6 ways to spark discussion and connect and can be used on Zoom calls, at retreats, or at workshops. For more ideas on how to improve your relationships and connect more deeply with others, check out these 10 recommended relationship books.     This Week on The Verywell Mind Podcast   On tomorrow's episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast, I talk with bestselling author Daniel Pink. He surveyed more than 15,000 people from around the world and uncovered some interesting facts about regret. Tune in to hear him discuss how we can use regret to move ourselves forward in life.    Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / RSS Read These Next Signs Your Partner May Be Lying READ NOW Strategies to Reduce Insecurity In Relationships READ NOW How to Build Trust in a Relationship READ NOW Spread the Light Share the newsletter with someone you know to make their day a little brighter. SHARE We're open to suggestions! If you have any feedback about this newsletter, let us know at feedback@verywell.com.     You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Healthy Mind newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here. If someone forwarded you this email, you can subscribe here!   A DOTDASH MEREDITH BRAND 28 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10005   © 2022 Verywellmind.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy