Social Media Tips: How To Stop Liking Someone When You Are In A Relationship
When you are in a relationship, having feelings for someone else can be stressful. You may wish to “turn off” your feelings, but there is usually no easy, simple way to stop thinking about the other person. Situations like these are typical and often remain harmless when they’re not acted upon.
But in cases where an individual acts upon those feelings, whether consciously or not, it can cause pain for everyone involved. Cheating to most people is equivalent to a betrayal of trust and an inherently selfish decision that involves sacrificing a relationship's integrity for feelings that may be temporary.
If you’re in a relationship with someone you care about but have romantic feelings for another, there are ways to temper your feelings to deter the temptation to cheat.
Tips on how to stop liking someone when you are in a relationship
Here are eight tips that can help when you like someone who’s not the person you’re in a relationship with:
Understand there is nothing wrong with you
First, if you have feelings for someone other than your partner, understand you’re not alone. Relationship studies suggest that one in five people report having serious feelings for someone else. Of course, while it’s reasonable to be attracted to other people, it is different when you choose to act on that attraction.
Every situation differs according to context—and some people choose to be in consensually non-monogamous relationships. While being attracted in someone else may be beyond your control, the decision to remain faithful to your partner is within your control.
Acknowledge your feelings
When solving a problem, the first thing to do is acknowledge that it exists. When trying to get over someone, the best way to begin is to confront your feelings instead of pretending you don’t have them. When you can acknowledge your feelings, you can explore why you’re feeling them—for example, it might be exciting to experience attraction to someone new, or you might be attracted to someone else because you’re frustrated by your current relationship.
Suppressed emotions tend to become more intense over time, which can harm your physical and psychological health. Repressed emotions oftentimes don’t make the feeling disappear; they only increase the adverse effects, including stress-related illnesses, anxiety, or depression.
Consider the consequences
When you are in a monogamous long-term relationship, your decisions typically cease to be solely about what you want. You may need to factor in your partner's feelings, especially in situations that can jeopardize your relationship's integrity. If you have children with your partner, you may also need to consider how your actions will affect them.
Don’t make comparisons
Your partner will probably never be perfect but comparing them to the other person could magnify your partner’s flaws and inadequacies to the point where the idea of cheating on them seems justifiable. Instead, focus on why you fell in love with your partner, your memories together, and how much they mean to you. You could even write about their most endearing attributes to remind yourself of how special they are.
If you want to avoid making comparisons, it may also be a good idea to stop following the person you’re interested in on social media. Alternatively, you may be able to “mute” their posts, so you don’t see them.
The best compliment you can give your partner is to respect them, but when you start judging them by unrealistic standards influenced by your feelings for someone else, you may lose a sense of your partner’s worth.
Distance yourself from the person, including on social media
When people develop feelings for someone, it’s often because they spend a lot of time together. Limit your interactions with this person as best as possible, and refrain from sending messages or engaging with them on social media. If you cannot find the emotional and mental resolve to avoid them, it may be hard to resist sexual advances should they arise. Cultivating an attitude of restraint to stop liking someone you don’t want to usually involves finding ways to stop talking to them. You don’t necessarily have to be hostile or rude in your approach. Still, set emotional and personal boundaries that firmly establish certain gestures or remarks from them will no longer be tolerated by you.
Spend time with your partner
Dating your partner may be one of the best ways to neutralize your feelings for someone else. You can arrange a surprise romantic dinner, go to a concert, go to a sporting event—whatever you enjoy doing together. Find creative ways to spend time alone with your partner and rekindle your romance. According to a 2017 study published by Harvard University, investing in your relationship can go a long way toward improving your health.
Make your partner the priority in your mind. The more quality time you spend in your partner's company, the less you might find yourself fantasizing or seeking something else. Keep your phone away if it causes a distraction or impedes your ability to have meaningful conversations with them during these moments. Treat these bonding sessions as a way to renew your commitment and let their affection remind you why you need to hold on to them.
Put an end to thinking about the other person
One of the first techniques to doing this is to think about other people—your family, friends, partner, children—and other things—work, your favorite meal, a memorable childhood experience. Replace the discomforting thought of this person with powerful ones that give you peace of mind. The aim is not to forget the person but to reduce their importance in your mind.
If you’ve noticed that certain situations trigger thoughts of this person, write them down, and then find ways to either avoid or redefine what those situations mean to you. These situations may come in words, images, songs, mannerisms, and sometimes even a particular place. When you can think about these things without the other person coming to mind during the process, it makes it difficult for you to see them the way you used to.
Learn how to stop liking someone when you are in a relationship
Communication is an essential part of any relationship. Before you talk about your feelings for someone else, consider how your partner will likely cope with that knowledge and proceed with caution. If your partner is likely to react strongly or become resentful, it may reveal things about the nature of your relationship, both positive and negative, that you hadn’t considered before.
Most people have romantic feelings for someone else from time-to-time while in romantic, monogamous relationships. Having a partner that allows you to express yourself freely can empower you to be honest with your feelings. If that’s the situation in your relationship, being open with your partner could help to destigmatize these feelings, build greater trust and openness, and ultimately reduce the number of obsessive thoughts about others.
Can online therapy help?
With online therapy platforms like Regain, you can speak to a professional from the comfort of your home on your schedule. Online therapy is available via in-app messaging, video chat, and phone and is often more affordable than traditional counseling without insurance. A growing body of research suggests that online therapy is as effective as conventional counseling, with both couples and individuals reporting overall satisfaction with the results and greater adherence to treatment plans.
Relationships are often complex, and we may find ourselves in situations that require thoughtful decision-making and delicate communication. Developing feelings for someone else is one of those situations. If you’re ready to work towards a happier, more balanced relationship with your partner, an online therapy professional can help.
Takeaway
If you’re in a committed relationship and thinking about others, there are many possible underlying reasons. For example, you might be thinking about other people because you’re dissatisfied with your relationship, you’re bored, or this person has something to offer that your current partner doesn’t.
If you’re thinking about someone else, you don’t have to address it on your own. Couple’s therapy can be an effective way to open communication channels and explore the difficulties you face in your relationship together.
Regain therapy reviews
“Austa has been wonderful thus far. She has helped my partner and I during an unimaginably difficult time... She has also guided us in communicating effectively and setting appropriate boundaries in our relationship. I was hesitant to pursue counseling at the beginning, but I truly believe that it is making a difference for our relationship. Austa is easy to talk to and she is a great listener. I would wholeheartedly recommend her as a counselor.”
“Sessions with Natalie are very insightful and give practical advice on implementing new habits and changes. Be prepared to engage and be challenged to think in a different way. I know that my partner and I can already see improvements in our relationship and feel more positive about working through our issues together.”
FAQs - Frequently asked questions
How do I stop liking my crush in real life or on social media?
When you have a crush, and like someone, it is not always easy to just stop liking them. If you find yourself in a relationship with someone else and have a crush, it is usually just harmless and temporary if you don’t act on it. But do not beat yourself up; it is normal sometimes to have a crush even if you are dating someone else. Acknowledge that you have these feelings but try to invest more time in your current relationship. Try to cut contact with your crush, sometimes out of sight, out of mind. If you feel you can’t stop liking your crush and choose to act on these feelings, cheating. Cheating is a huge betrayal of trust and would probably deeply hurt your partner.
How do you stop liking someone so much?
Sometimes we like someone so much, and we really want to stop liking them. If you are in a relationship with someone else, that would definitely be why you would want to stop liking a person. Unfortunately, there is no easy, simple way to stop liking someone. First, acknowledge these feelings so you can finally stop them. When we think about someone or something so much, we often romanticize it and make them bigger in our heads than they are.
If you’ve been in a relationship for a long time and you’re pining over someone else, it may be because we always want what we can’t have. You may not actually like him as much as you think you do. Sometimes we like someone so much because they don’t like us back and it becomes about the chase. Do you really like this person so much, or do you want him because you can’t be with him? There are ways to stop liking someone by focusing on other things in your life. Put more energy into your partner and the relationship you have with them. It is easy to get sucked into life, and it makes your relationship stale. It may be time to show your relationship a little love and rekindle the romance. This will surely help you stop liking someone else. Remove contact with the person that you like so much. If you follow him on social media, mute his posts or unfollow him. It’s easier said than done, but the less you see a person, the less you think about them. Eventually, you will stop liking this person so much.
How do you stop having feelings for someone?
There are many reasons that you would stop having feelings for someone. Sometimes we stop liking someone after we really get to know them, and they are different than we thought they were. Other times we like someone, and we don’t want to like them anymore for many reasons. Maybe they aren’t treating you how you’d like to be treated, but you can’t stop having feelings. Possibly you want a relationship, and they don’t. You want to stop having feelings in your heart. Sometimes you are in a relationship, and you start to have feelings for someone else. You may feel guilty for having those feelings and want to stop them. Remove that person from your life and focus on other things or your current relationship. If you’re having difficulties getting over someone, it could be beneficial to get support from a therapist.
Can you suddenly stop liking someone?
There is always a turning point when you realize you stop liking someone. Sometimes something unpleasant will happen that really turns you off. Other times it could be many little things that make you stop liking someone. It is possible that subconsciously, or slowly, you stop thinking about this person earlier than you even realize. If you’re in a relationship and you realize you suddenly stopped liking them, it may be time to accept that and have an honest conversation with your partner about the future of your relationship. It is easy to get sucked into the comfortability of a relationship. Unfortunately, it doesn’t mean you’re meant to stay together. It could be time to accept that the relationship has come to an end.
How do you tell if my crush is thinking about me?
Of course, we can’t read people’s minds, but there are signs that your crush may be thinking about you. Maybe he randomly messages you and asks you if you’ve seen a new tv show. He may be finding an excuse to reach out to you. He may a video tutorial with you about something you mentioned you wanted to learn—little things like this show that you are on his mind.
How do you tell if your crush likes you?
You may be wondering if the guy you have a crush on likes you. If he hasn’t outright told you, there may be subtle signs that he’s into you. If he finds excuses to text you or asks you to hang out, there’s a good chance he does like you. When you’re together, if he seems to touch you often accidentally, stares at you a lot, or is always laughing with you, he might be smitten.
Other frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Here are some more FAQs:
Why do we avoid someone we like?
Can a guy ignore a girl he likes?
Does ignoring someone make them want you more?
What do men think when you ignore?
If your questions were not answered in this article, you can use the search bar to find other articles about relationships.
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