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The Naked Truth | How to avoid feeling trapped in a relationship, from spending time on your own hobbies to evaluating why you’re together

  • People who feel trapped in a relationship are unaware they have options to free themselves and their partners, and resign themselves to a life of misery
  • Acknowledging these feelings doesn’t mean the end of a relationship, says an expert – ‘it’s more like it’s time for a realistic re-evaluation of the connection’

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One of the warning signs of feeling trapped is becoming more introverted, colder and less responsive. Photo: Getty Images

 

Feeling trapped in a relationship will make anyone feel suffocated – and that feeling can lead to misery, despair or even depression.

It can cause partners to dislike, distrust or hate one another, because each sees the other as the enemy keeping them trapped.

Such relationships can become very toxic and self-destructive, but some people are too afraid to take responsibility for their choices and regain control of the situation to live the life they want.

As a result, they hide these negative feelings, endure them in silence and carry on as usual because of obligations or the fear of letting people down.

Feeling trapped in a relationship will make anyone feel suffocated. Photo: Getty Images/Cavan Images RF
Feeling trapped in a relationship will make anyone feel suffocated. Photo: Getty Images/Cavan Images RF

People who feel trapped are unaware they have options to free themselves and their partners, or don’t know how to express themselves. They resign themselves to a lifetime of misery and feel unable to change their predicament.

Luisa Tam
Luisa Tam has been a journalist for more than 30 years. She has held a variety of roles during her career, including working as a producer for NDR German TV, a media campaigner with Greenpeace, and as the deputy managing editor of Eastern Express. She previously worked at the Post from 1988 to 1990, before rejoining in her current role in 2015.
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