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Wayward Side :
Passive aggressive

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 gfrich (original poster member #37948) posted at 10:51 AM on Friday, November 15th, 2013

I have some real passive aggressive issues I need to deal with and change. Does anyone have any ideas, links or books that will help me change this side of my personality, because it is really hampering R.

WH (me) 46
BS 46
Together 29 years, married 25 years
2 daughters 24 & 18
D- Day 18/8/12
6 month EA that lead to 4 month PA in 2004

posts: 50   ·   registered: Dec. 30th, 2012
id 6562731
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Neznayou ( member #40654) posted at 11:20 AM on Friday, November 15th, 2013

I'm interested to see what advice comes up as I've had this problem also.

Him: BH 1969
Me: WW 1973

Wedding: April 9, 1994

Son: 1998 (college freshman)
Son: 2002 (high school freshman)

Caught at AP's house: 10 Aug 2012

I do not have it all together.

posts: 862   ·   registered: Sep. 12th, 2013   ·   location: Far, far away
id 6562739
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nealos ( member #35284) posted at 2:18 PM on Friday, November 15th, 2013

Oh man-- good luck.

Doing some family of origin work with my therapist has gone a long way to help me combat passive aggressive tendencies. I came to see that my family's communication system growing up didn't make space to freely/safely express feelings (especially negative)-- so I had to find alternate ways to express my anger, frustration, fear, loneliness, etc. This is the root of my passive aggressiveness-- and understanding the root helped open up my mind to ways in which it manifests as an adult.

For instance at work I don't feel allowed to ask for more guidance or help on my projects (in other words, "express my fear"), so I tend to procrastinate and let things get chaotic… when things get chaotic I'm allowed to express how I feel, but only because things have gotten desperate and out of hand at that point and the "normal" rules don't apply. In a way, I need things to get chaotic so that I can eventually be heard. This is a pattern I repeat again and again.

My work example probably isn't helpful for your situation, but I tell it because based on my limited experience passive-aggressive tendencies manifest differently for everyone. So, I think the best way to avoid being passive aggressive is to understand where the root of the personality disorder exists within you-- if youre like me, this will allow you to bring a gentle awareness of your adult tendencies so that you can start to notice your own patterns.

My only "easy" advice would be to try to be direct as possible in the way you communicate to your spouse-- even if it comes at the risk of offending or upsetting her. It couldn't hurt to let her know that many times you're too scared to be direct with her because of the way you were taught to communicate in your family… and then you could ask for forgiveness in advance for your bluntness, because you are NOT going to be good at communicating directly if you've relied on passive-agreesiveness for decades.

good luck

33yo WS-SA

“When we disclose the thought and intents of our hearts in surrender, we identify with one another at depth.”

posts: 261   ·   registered: Apr. 9th, 2012   ·   location: 5280'
id 6562896
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 gfrich (original poster member #37948) posted at 6:33 PM on Friday, November 15th, 2013

Nealos

Thanks for that, I will try be as direct as possible, the problem is as you say having been this way for decades it's in bread in a person.

WH (me) 46
BS 46
Together 29 years, married 25 years
2 daughters 24 & 18
D- Day 18/8/12
6 month EA that lead to 4 month PA in 2004

posts: 50   ·   registered: Dec. 30th, 2012
id 6563311
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