Key Points
Telling a partner you struggle with their personal preferences could bring up feelings of defensiveness and inadequacy for them.Focus on how your preference differences make you feel and highlight positive moments you'd like to have more of.You can't force your partner to change, but a teamwork mentality and reasonable expectations could help...
I'm very concerned about my boyfriend's personal hygiene habits...
But there are steps you can take to make these hygiene-focused conversations feel respectful and fruitful, Brittany Pinto, a sex-informed therapist who often counsels clients about their self-esteem, told me...
According to Pinto, finding creative ways to bring up personal hygiene concerns as they happen, using "I" statements, and being honest with yourself about your needs could help you reach a resolution with your boyfriend...
Being honest about your concerns in a kind way instead of jumping into solution-mode without addressing how you feel could help your boyfriend better understand how his preferences could be affecting your connection, Pinto said.. Then, you can come up with solutions together..
You might be interested in
What to do if your boyfriend keeps messaging his ex-girlfriend, according to a therapist
29, Aug, 23Doing It Right: You can't control your boyfriend's behavior. But you can try to communicate about your feelings and understand his, a therapist said.