17 Signs You Are Walking On Eggshells in a Relationship

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Have you ever heard of a “walking on eggshells relationship?”

You wake up, and you already know what you need to do. You immediately feel tense as you do your best to start the day with positivity. Still, the feeling of dread doesn’t go away.

You’re afraid that at any moment, with one wrong move, you can trigger your partner’s outbursts. It’s exactly how walking on eggshells in a relationship is.

Some of us might not be familiar with the said term but can relate to the given situation. 

What does walking on eggshells mean in a relationship?

Stepping on eggshells or walking on eggshells is the best description for anyone who is around a person who has erratic, explosive, and unpredictable behavior. 

A ‘walking on eggshells’ situation can occur anywhere and with anyone, from your boss, friends, parents, siblings, and co-workers, and most commonly found with a spouse or partner.

It’s like living in fear; knowing a single word, action, or just anything can set them off. You just realize that you are always walking on eggshells, always careful with everything you do and say to avoid any conflict.

The walking on eggshells meaning implies it is sadly a tiring and toxic relationship.

According to licensed psychologist Silvana Mici:

Walking on eggshells in a relationship can be emotionally exhausting and detrimental to one’s well-being.

Now that you fully understand what walking on eggshells in a relationship is, the next question is to understand the signs and how to stop walking on eggshells.

17 signs you are walking on eggshells in a relationship

Have you ever asked yourself, “Does walking on eggshells mean emotional abuse?”

If you do, then it’s about time you realize that you are in a very toxic relationship. Here are the 17 signs of a walking on eggshells relationship.

1. You always worry

You wake up, and you look at your partner only to realize that you will start another day worrying. You constantly feel that you might say or do something that can ruin your partner’s mood.

You start feeling stressed out when you hear your partner call you. You feel tense when your partner asks you what went wrong. Over time, this fear becomes a relationship trauma.

2. Your partner is manipulative

Something goes wrong, and your partner immediately tries to blame you. You don’t even have time to explain or clarify the situation. Your partner makes you feel bad about what happened and would even say mean words about how you are incapable of doing anything right.

Walking on eggshells in a relationship feels like this. You can also suffer from emotional and verbal abuse whenever your partner is angry.

3. You prefer staying silent

Misunderstanding is common in every relationship, but how can you clear the issue if you can’t even justify yourself or the situation?

Your partner is already angry and is already lashing out at you. As much as you want to talk, you bite your lip and swallow the harsh words that your partner is saying. You don’t want to make things worse, so you choose to stay quiet.

4. Non-verbal abuse is present

Abuse from walking on eggshells in a relationship isn’t only done verbally. You don’t talk about it with your family or friends, but you know your partner’s non-verbal cues when this person is angry.

You’re at a party, but you can’t enjoy anything because you are scared that you might do anything that will upset your partner.

You constantly have to look at your partner to see if they are already glaring at you, being silent, or even squeezing your hand tightly out of anger.

5. You are no longer happy

One of the signs you’re walking on eggshells is that you are deeply unhappy, despite seemingly being with the one you love.

Are you tired of walking on eggshells? Do you feel sad and depressed?

If you do, then ask yourself why you are still holding on. Being in a relationship should make you feel complete and happy and not the opposite.

6. You are insecure

Your partner should uplift you, encourage you, and hold your hand as you reach for your goals.

But what if all you feel is insecurity, jealousy, and uncertainty?

Remember that the way your partner talks and treats you will have a huge effect on how you see yourself as a whole. It will also have a big effect on your relationship. Soon, you might find yourself showing unhealthy behaviors because of this.

7. You always try to understand

“My partner is just tired and overworked. I did make a mistake, and I deserve that. He’s a good provider and a good person.”

Do you often find yourself trying to justify your partner’s outbursts?

Do you overlook your partner’s bad actions, and faults and try your best to justify them? If you love yourself and your partner, you would want to pinpoint the issue and work on it.

8. You feel powerless and weak

When your partner gets angry at you, you just keep quiet and stay still until this person, who you love so much, calms down.

You accept everything that is thrown at you because you feel that you are powerless and weak and that you can’t stand up for yourself. Deep inside, you know this as a fact. That’s why you just try your best to let everything pass.

9. One-way decision making

In a healthy relationship, both partners talk about everything and consult each other before making any decisions. If you feel that you can’t even voice out your opinions and thoughts, then this means that you are walking on eggshells in your relationship.

10. Hard to please

You focus on attending to your partner’s needs. You do your best every day to please your partner, but somehow, this person can still find something to criticize.

Is this how you want to live your life? To constantly try to please your manipulative partner just to get affection? Remember that your partner is not your boss.

11. Anything for love

Are you the type of person who would do anything for love?

Do you believe that if you show how much you love this person? That soon, they will just realize their mistake and change?

That approach never works and will just make your situation worse. Walking on eggshells in a relationship will not change overnight because of your sacrifices.

12. It’s only temporary

“It’s okay; this is just a challenge to test our love for each other. It’s just temporary.”

It’s not uncommon to come across people who had experience with walking on eggshells in their relationship to say this. In fact, many people believe that what they are going through is just a trial to test their relationship.

13. You’ve become dependent

Do you feel that you are now completely dependent on your partner?

Whether it’s emotionally or financially, feeling dependent will make you feel that you can no longer survive without your partner. So, you just try your best to please this person, even if it means you have to tolerate walking on eggshells.

14. You feel trapped and lost

You feel trapped, unable to do anything. 

You don’t dare to stand up for yourself or walk away from the relationship. 

You used to be independent, happy, and positive, but now, you just fear making the tiniest mistakes. You look into the mirror and see a terrified stranger, and you wonder what happened.

You just don’t know yourself anymore.

15. You act hyper-vigilant

Hyper-vigilance refers to being constantly on high alert and overly attentive to your partner’s reactions and behaviors. 

In walking on eggshells relationship, you find yourself monitoring every word, action, or gesture, trying to predict how it might affect your partner’s mood or response. This heightened vigilance stems from the fear of setting off conflict or facing negative consequences. 

Hyper-vigilance can lead to a constant state of anxiety and a sense of walking on eggshells to avoid any potential triggers that may upset your partner.

16. You feel responsible for their emotions

So, what are the consequences of walking on eggshells in relationships?

You may start feeling that you are solely accountable for their happiness, well-being, and emotional state. 

You may internalize their reactions, believing that it is your fault if they become upset, angry, or disappointed. This mindset can lead to constant self-blame and a sense of being trapped in a caretaker role. 

It is important to recognize that each individual is responsible for their own emotions, and a healthy relationship involves shared emotional responsibility and support.

17. You feel isolated

Isolation refers to a pattern of behavior where your partner exhibits control by intentionally isolating you from friends, family, or activities that you enjoy. 

This isolation can take various forms, such as discouraging or preventing you from spending time with loved ones, manipulating situations to keep you away from social interactions, or making you feel guilty for seeking outside support. 

The aim is to create dependency and limit external perspectives, leaving you feeling isolated, alone, and without a support system outside of the relationship.

How to stop walking on eggshells in a relationship? 7 ways

Stopping the pattern of walking on eggshells in a relationship is crucial for your well-being and the health of the partnership. Here are proven ways to learn how to stop walking on eggshells.

1. Be better for yourself

The change that you have been dreaming about should start with you. Breaking free from fear and stress will be a hard process, but remember that it’s not impossible.

Learn to lift yourself up. Remind yourself that you deserve love and even compassion. Save yourself first before you save your relationship.

2. Stop blaming yourself

Stop blaming yourself for everything. Stop allowing your partner to convince you that you are not enough or that you are incapable of doing anything right.

If you start seeing the bigger picture, then, instead of fearing your partner, you’ll begin to understand that maybe, this person needs help.

 Instead of keeping quiet, be calm and simply ask your partner.

• “Tell me why you are upset with me?”
• “Tell me what happened.”
• “Are you okay?”
• “Do you want to talk about your feelings?”

Remember that it may not work the first time, but it will be a great start to start practicing being open with each othe.

3. Stand up for yourself

This is the hardest part of this process. You need to face your fears and doubts. Stand up for yourself and refuse another moment of these toxic behaviors.

Remember not to be aggressive because this may cause a lot of trouble.

Start with small steps. If you start seeing your partner getting impatient and start accusing you, stop this person and simply say, “No. Stop. This will not work for me anymore. Instead of being aggressive, let’s talk.”

Be firm and look your partner in the eye.

4. Offer to talk

Sometimes, it all boils down to a calm and open conversation.

If your partner listens to you, then this is the time to offer this person a quiet time to talk. Agree to be honest with each other. You’d be surprised to know that maybe, there were hidden resentments or problems in your relationship that haven’t been addressed.

Remind your partner that being honest and listening attentively is better than walking on eggshells.

5. Set boundaries

Once you’ve started talking to each other, this is also the time to start setting boundaries for yourself and for your partner as well.

If the situation calls for it, give yourself a private or quiet time. Don’t go lashing it out on your partner. Instead, start finding ways to calm down and relieve whatever negative emotions you are feeling.

6. Agree to work together

How to stop walking on eggshells in your relationship?

Agree to be a better couple. If both of you don’t have problems with this setup, then that’s great. It won’t be perfect, and there will be instances where one of you might make a mistake. 

However, admitting your faults and being open to change is already an improvement.

7. Practice self-care

Prioritize self-care and focus on activities that bring you joy, relaxation, and fulfillment. Take care of your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Engage in hobbies, exercise, and spend time with supportive people.

Watch this video to learn what self-care really implies:

Is there any hope for walking on eggshell relationships?

Walking on eggshells in your relationship starts when you become afraid of your partner’s reaction to any given situation. From then on, you become leery of your words, actions, and even your own feelings just to avoid another outburst.

Soon, you will notice that your relationship has already started revolving around this pattern. Is there any hope for this type of toxic relationship?

The good news is that there is hope, but it will start with you. What do we mean by this?

Let’s first refer to this quote: “You teach people how to treat you by what you tolerate.”

If you are tired of walking on eggshells in your relationship, then it’s time to break this unhealthy and toxic habit. Stop tolerating your partner’s behavior and act to see the change that you want.

There is still a chance to save your relationship, and it happens when you decide to act.

Final thoughts

If you feel that you need the help of an expert, don’t hesitate to ask for it. Your partner might need to go through sessions such as eggshell therapy or anger management.

As licensed psychologist Silvana Mici explains:

Keep in mind that healthy relationships are built on trust, respect, and mutual understanding. If you feel like you’re walking on eggshells, it’s a sign that there may be underlying issues that need to be addressed.

Remember that every situation is different. If all of these steps don’t work, or you are the only one trying to make your relationship work, then maybe it’s time to leave the relationship.

No one deserves to stay in an emotionally abusive relationship.

You start to become unhappy, and your mental health will also be affected. Soon, your self-esteem and even your self-confidence will be compromised. Yes, you love your partner, but please, learn to see the reality of your relationship.

Learn to put yourself first. Start by loving yourself and knowing what you deserve in life. Choose to stop walking on eggshells in a relationship, and know that you deserve to be loved.