Why Does My Girlfriend Hate Me? Couples Therapy For Complex Emotions

All relationships change over time, and it’s not uncommon to reach a place where you get the idea that your partner just can’t stand you. You may even be asking yourself, “Why does my girlfriend hate me?” Although this happens in many relationships, that doesn’t make it any easier when it’s happening to you, especially when you still feel in love but are hurt by your girlfriend’s behavior. 

In any romantic relationship, most people begin wondering about their own feelings or their partner's true feelings at some point, especially when feeling hurt or disconnected. Taking the time to understand the truth behind your emotional connection with a loved one can alleviate any overthinking, emotional pain, and anxiety. If you and your girlfriend are still together, then figuring out the root of their behaviors, potentially through online therapy, may be able to help you fix things and turn the situation around.

Does my girlfriend hate me?

Hate is a strong word, so for starters, look at their behavior for a clue. Spend time asking yourself if arguments seem to appear out of thin air, or if she snaps at you without warning. It’s possible she’s upset about at something or experiencing stress from a difficult situation that has nothing to do with you or your relationship. Pay attention to see if there is anything giving them trouble or causing stress. In some cases, your girlfriend may be taking out frustrations on you without realizing it. You could be in a good position to help get them through stress and difficulties, which can strengthen their positive feelings for you after getting past this hurdle.

If her behavior towards you has gotten more hostile since you started dating, it’s also possible you unknowingly did something that hurt her feelings or made her angry. Whatever the reason is, try to talk to them about what they’re feeling and understand their concerns. If the problem has something to do with you, you deserve to know so that you can either resolve it by apologizing or discussing what it means for your relationship in the future.

What can I do about my girlfriend hating me?

Your partner can’t read your mind -- you need to express what you mean and what makes you upset to them because you may have different communication styles. It’s important to talk to your girlfriend and explain how you are feeling so she knows how her behavior is affecting you. You should also try to show your love for her with your actions, words, and body language.

When couples have a hard time expressing their truth, listening, or being honest with each other it can lead to conflicting messages and a breakdown in communication. Individuals may find themselves wondering why their partner is giving them cold shoulders, maybe assuming their partner hates them, when in reality they are feeling hurt. Since positive communication skills may improve relationship satisfaction, it may be beneficial to ask questions, try to realize how they’re doing, and actively hear them out. The following are other communication skills that may help you and your girlfriend connect:

• Practice active listening
• Ensure questions are open ended
• Organize your thoughts ahead of time
• Utilize non-verbal cues
• Avoid interruptions
• Use “I” statements (e.g., “I feel that…”)

If your girlfriend’s behavior continues to bother you, examine how long they’ve treated you this way and whether they act like this toward other people in their personal life too. If their behavior reflects a pattern of relationship issues, they may be struggling with a personal conflict. Either way, meeting together with a couple’s counselor may help you find out what is bothering them and how to help.

Identifying the behaviors that upset you in a relationship

We sometimes have a sense that someone hates us without being able to pinpoint why we feel that way. This is completely normal, though painful. Identifying the exact behaviors that are making you feel unloved can help to resolve these feelings.

You’ll likely need to pay attention to your girlfriend’s words, body language, and behaviors. Consider what you do or say, and what she says and does before these incidents happen. How do you know your girlfriend hates you or has negative feelings toward you? Is it by their words, tone of voice, actions, gestures, or facial expressions? After spending time observing your relationship and forming your opinion, you can move on to deciding what you’re going to do about it. Online therapy has been proven to alleviate symptoms of depression and other mental health issues.

Checking your expectations

When we meet a person who appeals to us, first encounters can seem magical. Everything they say or do may seem charming and interesting and they may treat us as if we’re the most attractive and fascinating person on earth. It can feel like no other person in the world matters to you and that no other person matters to them.

The honeymoon phase doesn’t usually last

But this kind of euphoria, known as the “honeymoon phase,” doesn’t usually last. Eventually, we start to see the world – and our partners – more honestly. This is a good thing because at that point you have an opportunity to see each other for who you really are and visualize how a realistic future together would look. 

Red flags will start to feel concerning

It can hurt when ordinary life settles in and you discover your differences and factors – those red flags that didn’t bother you in the past suddenly start to feel concerning, especially if we expect our partners to behave as they did when we first met throughout the entire relationship. 

 Stop asking “Why does my girlfriend hate me?” and get to know your girlfriend more

This is one of the many reasons relationship fights can begin; it isn't necessarily anyone's fault. When you think your girlfriend hates you, consider that it might be that she’s just treating you more authentically than she did in the past. You probably want to know who your girlfriend really is, but you also may have liked the attention and admiration she gave you as her partner at first. 

Try to resolve the dilemma

Resolving that dilemma can help you feel more at peace with the relationship. Your counselor can help you come up with ways to show your love for your girlfriend. When you do, she may just follow, letting you learn to love each other's flaws.

Common Reasons for Emotional Disconnection

Emotional disconnection can stem from various factors – such as one or more partners feeling hurt, emotional pain, or emotional neglect. Research suggests that people who feel rejected are likely to react negatively. Especially when individuals are unable to manage their own feelings and past hurts, they may take it out on extended family members, friends, or within their romantic relationship. Understanding the truth behind reactions can help you respond to a partner with compassion and support. 

Rebuilding the Emotional Connection Between You Both

Restoring emotional connection in a romantic relationship takes time, effort, and mutual involvement from both you and your partner. Open and honest conversations – a cornerstone of healthy communication skills – can help people in relationships find a middle ground , understand mutual feelings, and feel connected.

In addition, certain exercises can make positive changes in a romantic relationship. Some positive ones include validating each other's feelings or showing gratitude for one another – such as writing down three things you appreciate about your partner. 

Is your girlfriend depressed?

Your girlfriend might not hate you at all. Instead, their behavior might be a sign that they’re depressed. 

When can depression arise?

Depression can arise from many different causes. Perhaps abuse, neglect or trauma from your girlfriend’s childhood is beginning to surface after years of dormancy. Maybe they’re having feelings that they’ve wasted their life in an unfulfilling job that isn't meeting their needs. Your girlfriend may have low self-esteem because no one ever taught them to love themselves. 

Symptoms of depression

Whatever the reason, depression has several distinct symptoms you can watch for. Does your girlfriend:

• Talk about being upset all the time or express feelings of sadness or hopelessness?
• Sleep a lot or having insomnia?
• Seem unusually anxious or irritable?
• Spend less time with friends?
• Engage in their favorite activities less frequently?
• Appear unusually restless or distracted?
• Seem lethargic?
• Show signs of developing some bad habits such as not changing their clothes?

What to do if your girlfriend seems depressed

If your partner is emotionally distant, you may experience conflicting messages, cold shoulders, or even negative behaviors – that leads to you feeling disconnected. It’s helpful to realize that these experiences aren’t necessarily a reflection of the relationship. A partner may be going through a hard time – which can lead to emotional disconnection.

First, don’t jump to conclusions or feel bad for your girlfriend. The signs listed above can indicate depression, but that determination should be made by a professional as they conduct research on this topic and are trained to address it. After all, many of these symptoms can be caused by physical ailments. You can kindly suggest that a counselor might be able to help. Then leave the decision to your girlfriend.

Take care of your mental health

If there’s a possibility your girlfriend is depressed, it’s also important to take care of your own mental health. Their depressed behaviors can put a significant strain on you. You may engage in self-blame. You might become angry, mad, or upset with them for not seeking help, wondering why the two of you lack the skills to work through it together. Your self-esteem may diminish as you ask yourself why you can’t help them.

Talk to a counselor

Talking to a counselor can give you the opportunity to learn more about how to help both yourself and your girlfriend. You can find out how to manage your feelings in a way that doesn’t contribute negatively to her condition. Getting help for yourself won’t resolve every problem in your relationship or change your girlfriend’s feelings or behavior, but you can avoid making both your lives harder and it can give you an advantage in coping with problems as they arise.

Managing Your Own Feelings During a Difficult Time 

If you’re feeling emotionally drained, feeling hurt, or having a hard time with day-to-day life, some of the below exercises can help you manage your own feelings:

• Mindfulness meditation: sitting down, closing your eyes, and focusing on your breathing, is an opportunity to slow down, increase self-awareness, and calm the nervous system
• Grounding: connecting with the earth has many health benefits – whether walking barefoot or spending time in nature 
• Self-expression: reflect memories, write down the positive ones, express your own truth, and realize what is going right in your life through journaling exercises

How Emotional Neglect Impacts Relationships 

Emotional neglect in childhood and beyond can impact future relationships, emotional connection, and communication skills. Research suggests that childhood neglect can lead to an anxious attachment style – characterized by negative behaviors in a romantic relationship, exaggeration to rejection cues, and feeling emotionally drained. Sometimes, feeling disconnected can be a symptom of past hurts and experiences. Therapy resources may help people build healthier attachment styles, become grounded in clarity and truth, and enhance their relationships. 

What if I’m right?

So, what if you’re right? What if your girlfriend really does hate you? It is a distinct possibility, especially if you have had a toxic or abusive relationship. You may not even realize what you’re doing and saying qualify as abuse. People who grew up in abusive households often see those behaviors as normal, because that was their normal for so many years. 

If so, your life doesn’t have to be over, but there’s a good chance your relationship with this person will be, at least until you change the way you think, talk, and behave. As a part of therapy, you can examine your behaviors with your counselor to determine if you are indeed abusive. It takes a lot of work and commitment to overcome being abusive, but it can be done. A licensed counselor is a great person to help you do it.

At the same time, your girlfriend may have her own issues to resolve. If this is true, you may want to examine the viability of the relationship and even consider breaking up if it’s a healthy thing to do. Going into couples counseling is a good first step as you begin to figure out the root of the problems. You both may benefit from engaging in individual work as well.

If you and your partner no longer share mutual feelings of love, companionship, and emotional connection, you may consider stepping back or seeking a therapist – where you can decide the best next step. When a romantic relationship causes a prolonged hard time and emotional pain, the true feelings of each individual may not align. Sometimes, stepping back can help you realize the truth, and what will be best for both individuals moving forward. 

Seeking Help Through Relationship Therapy

For married couples or those in romantic relationships, therapy is an opportunity to re-connect, navigate marital problems, or rebuild trust. Exercises used in relationship therapy – such as daily check-ins, empathy exercises, or eye gazing – enhance communication skills, foster positive changes, and help couples feel connected. If you and your partner are experiencing a hard time, couples therapy may help.  

Couples therapy

Couples therapy is a good way to get the help you need in order to address problems with your relationship, and BetterHelp is a great resource. Their counselors are available to help you understand the dynamics in your relationship so you can move forward. Through BetterHelp’s online platform, you can schedule appointments at times that are convenient for both you and your girlfriend – you can even attend sessions together if your relationship is long-distance. Even if you live in the same city, you can still determine whether it’s best to attend meetings together or separately, based on the potential for things to become reactive. All you need to attend is a safe internet connection, and you can meet from your home, office, or other preferred setting.

Online couples therapy shows just as much promise in assisting partners with relationship-based challenges as traditional in-person therapy approaches. In one study involving 30 couples between the ages of 21 and 69 years old, researchers implemented a couples behavioral education program designed to promote self-change through videoconferencing.