My Spouse Dismisses My Feelings – Am I Expecting Too Much?
Lately, I’ve noticed that every time I bring up my feelings, my spouse dismisses my feelings as if they don’t matter. It’s starting to make me feel unheard and unimportant. Am I expecting too much, or is this a real problem?
Background Information
My spouse and I have been together for seven years, and while we’ve had our ups and downs, I’ve always tried to communicate openly. However, I’ve started to notice a pattern—whenever I express frustration, sadness, or even excitement, my spouse either minimizes it or changes the subject.
At first, I thought I was overanalyzing things, but over time, it’s become clear that my feelings are rarely acknowledged.
The Main Conflict
Last week, I had a particularly stressful day at work and came home hoping for some comfort. When I started venting about my day, my spouse sighed and said, “It’s not that big of a deal, just move on.”
That response stung. I wasn’t looking for a solution—just some validation. When I told them that, they shrugged and said, “You always make everything dramatic.”
The Aftermath
I felt dismissed and hurt, but instead of arguing, I shut down. Later that evening, I brought it up again, hoping for a more thoughtful response. Instead, my spouse got annoyed and told me I was being “too sensitive.”
This isn’t the first time this has happened, and now I’m wondering if I’m asking for too much. Is it unreasonable to want my partner to acknowledge my emotions?
Community Reaction
“Feeling unheard in a relationship can be incredibly isolating. Your emotions matter.”
“A supportive partner doesn’t have to agree with you but should at least validate your feelings.”
“You’re not too sensitive—your feelings are real, and they deserve respect.”
“This could be a sign of emotional neglect. You need to have a serious conversation about your needs.”
“A partner who consistently dismisses you isn’t valuing the relationship properly.”
Final Thoughts
I don’t want to overreact, but I also don’t want to feel like my emotions don’t matter in my own marriage. I know relationships require compromise, but shouldn’t emotional support be a given?
Is this something that can be improved with better communication, or is it a deeper issue? Has anyone else experienced this?
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