Why Am I So Jealous?

Do you experience anger toward a person or situation that is interfering with something you care about?

Do you have a hard time feeling happy for someone when they receive something you wanted?

Do you experience sadness or deep feelings of distance when thinking about a partner, friend, or loved one?

Do you experience feelings of dislike toward a new person in a loved one’s life? For example, a man may feel hostile toward his daughter’s fiancé even if the partnership is healthy and normal.

Do you experience resentment of an important person in your life (e.g., friend or partner) when they can’t spend time with you?

Based on your answers, it is unlikely that you have a serious problem with being jealous. Jealousy is an overwhelming feeling of insecurity about a potential loss or inequity in distribution of resources. We also speak of jealousy to describe a feeling related to being possessive of a partner or friend. It’s not uncommon for people to experience jealousy once in a while. Mild jealousy in a relationship is not necessarily unhealthy. It can be a sign that one cares about their relationship. But extreme jealousy can have a big impact on someone’s life. People who feel like jealousy is having a negative impact on their daily functioning should consider talking to a therapist.

Based on your answers, you are displaying some signs related to being jealous. It’s normal to experience feelings of jealousy from time to time, but if the feelings are strong and interfere with your life, it’s important to seek professional help. Feelings of jealousy are often rooted in deeper feelings related to trust, self-esteem, loneliness, insecurity, communication problems, and control. Jealousy can be expressed in several ways. Some behaviors may be subtle, while strong feelings of jealousy can cause someone to act out. When jealousy is frequent or irrational, it can become destructive.

Unfortunately, you are displaying symptoms typically seen among individuals who have a serious problem with feeling jealous. When jealous feelings are persistent or severe, this may be an indication of an underlying mental health problem. Mental conditions associated with jealousy include schizophrenia, anxiety, borderline personality, and psychosis. It may be important to seek medical help for your symptoms to understand the underlying cause. Although everyone experiences feelings of jealousy now and then, if it is frequent and intense it can become destructive.