Experiencing insecurity when beginning a new relationship is entirely normal, yet these minor issues can evolve into major obstacles unless they are acknowledged and dealt with early on.
To help you pinpoint and remedy any doubts you or your partner might have, here is a look at some of the most common sticking points and how to overcome them.
Insecurity over sexual performance
This is arguably the biggest hurdle that new relationships have to leap over if they are to survive in the long term, as even if both parties are well matched in every other way, complications in the bedroom can create a terminal rift between you.
Men are particularly susceptible to feeling inadequate and insecure when it comes to their sexual performance, and there are actually some common myths about erectile dysfunction in particular that are worth dispelling. Today there are affordable, effective medical solutions to performance woes that are worth investigating, especially since this is something that can afflict younger men as well as older men. It can also be treated with the right fitness regime, amongst other lifestyle changes.
Insecurity over fidelity
New relationships are fraught with peril when it comes to exclusivity; knowing when to make it clear that you want to be together as a couple without any third parties lingering on the peripheries can seem like a daunting task, while also leading to questions over fidelity if you do not make this point clearly to your fledgling partner.
Of course as you get to know someone, you should have a good measure of what they are like as a person, what their conception of the relationship between you might be and whether you need to set out your desire for exclusivity in stone. As always, it makes sense to lay your cards on the table as soon as possible and be honest about what you are looking for from the relationship, so that there is no ambiguity.
Insecurity over compatibility
In the first flush of a new relationship, the animal magnetism between two people can be overwhelming, to the point that it consumes your every waking thought and even monopolises your dreams.
However, when a new couple is enjoying that initial period of immense passion for one another, it is also easy to start worrying about whether this is actually sustainable. In short, will you still be right for each other once you have got over the honeymoon period and spend more time together out of the bedroom than in it?
Again, whether or not you choose to confront these questions head-on will depend on what you are looking for in the relationship. Most importantly, do not over-think the issue of compatibility early on, as this will certainly sour whatever spark of a good thing might have been there in the first place.
Insecurity over earnings
One additional wedge that can be driven between couples in a new relationship if they let it is that of income. If one part of the partnership has more disposable income to splash than the other, this can create some uncomfortable scenarios.
Openness is always the best policy and if you are worried that a wealthier partner is going to push your spending beyond comfortable limits, or that your own solid financial standing might intimidate the other person, talking about this sooner rather than later makes a lot of sense.
