A clingy girlfriend is a woman who is always around her boyfriend, even when he doesn’t want her to be.
She gets upset if he says no to a date or a get-together, and she feels insecure if she’s not in constant contact with him.
Is your boyfriend always complaining that you’re clingy or you’ve observed the signs that you are a clingy girlfriend?
If so, then it’s time to make a change.
Because being clingy is a major turn-off, and it can quickly ruin a relationship.
So, how can you stop being a clingy girlfriend?
Read on.
How To Stop Being a Clingy Girlfriend
1. Understand Why You Might Be Clingy
There are a few reasons you might feel the need to cling to your boyfriend a little too much.
It could be that you don’t feel confident and secure in the relationship, causing you to act out of insecurity.
Maybe you’re simply used to getting a lot of attention from your partner, and you’re not getting that same level of attention anymore.
Or, it could be a combination of both.
In any case, the first step to stopping yourself from being too clingy is understanding why you might be feeling this way in the first place.
Once you have a better understanding of your triggers, you can start to work on addressing them.
Because when you know the ‘why’, you’ll better understand the ‘how’.
2. Start Working On Your Confidence
One of the most common reasons people are clingy is their lack of confidence.
This can make you feel insecure and unsure of yourself, which makes you want to depend on a partner for reassurance.
That is why you must focus on building your confidence and self-esteem.
This is easier said than done, but it’s essential if you want to stop feeling the need to cling to your partner all the time.
There are a few ways you can work on building up your confidence.
One is to start practicing self-compassion and accepting yourself for who you are, flaws and all.
Another is to focus on building up your own independent life outside of the relationship.
This could involve taking up new hobbies, spending more time with friends and family, being more committed to your work or study, setting new goals for yourself, or anything else that helps you feel good about yourself.
Talk to yourself in the mirror every day and tell yourself that you are a confident person who is worthy of love and affection.
This will help you get in touch with the real you, which will make it easier to express yourself without being needy.
Confidence isn’t something that happens overnight—it takes time and practice.
But if you take small steps toward building up your self-esteem and learning how to be comfortable with yourself, your relationship will benefit greatly.
3. Talk To Your Partner About Your Needs
If you feel like you’re not getting the attention you need from your partner, it’s important to communicate this to him directly.
Clinginess often happens when we feel like our needs are not being met, so it’s essential to talk to your partner about what you need from the relationship.
Let him know that you feel like you’re not getting enough attention and why that is important to you.
This way, he can understand where you’re coming from and make an effort to meet your needs.
However, you must also be realistic in your expectations.
Your partner is not a mind reader, so he cannot know what you need unless you tell him.
And even then, he might not be able to give you exactly what you want all the time.
So try to be understanding and patient as well.
4. Try Setting Boundaries for Yourself
One way to stop being clingy is to set boundaries for yourself.
This will help you exercise some self-control or self-restraint.
For example, you don’t need to answer every text in 30 seconds or be available every time your boyfriend calls or texts.
Make sure he knows that you have other things going on in your life, too—like work, hobbies, family, and friends.
Try not to ask for constant updates about what he’s doing (or when he’ll be done).
Don’t text or email him all day.
If he wants to see you or talk to you, he’ll call or text first.
If not, don’t worry about it.
Don’t text your boyfriend when he’s asleep or at work if it’s not necessary.
You need to respect his time and realize that he has other priorities in life besides just you.
5. Give Him Some Space
One of the best ways to stop being a clingy girlfriend is to give your partner some space.
I know I mentioned this briefly in the previous point but this point needs to be mentioned separately because it deserves the emphasis.
Giving your man some occasional space doesn’t mean that you should never see or talk to him, but it does mean giving him some time to himself.
This could involve going out with friends, taking some time for himself at home, or anything else that gives him some time away from you.
We all need some time to ourselves and that’s perfectly normal.
If you can respect your partner’s need for space, it will go a long way in helping you to stop being clingy.
6. Focus On Your Own Happiness
If you want to stop being a clingy girlfriend, you should focus on your own happiness.
This means making sure that you have a life outside of the relationship that you are happy with and that you’re not putting all your eggs in one basket.
Make sure to focus on your own hobbies, interests, and goals.
Spend time with friends and family.
Do things that make you happy and fulfilled.
When you have a strong sense of self, you’ll be less likely to feel the need to cling to your partner all the time.
7. Don’t Be Afraid To Seek Help
If you’ve tried all of the above and you’re still struggling to stop being clingy, it’s important to seek out professional help.
This is something that can be extremely helpful, especially if your clinginess is stemming from a place of insecurity or anxiety.
There’s no shame in seeking help and it’s nothing to be embarrassed about.
If you feel like you need some extra support, reach out to a therapist or counselor who can help you work through your issues.
8. Remember That This Is A Process
Finally, remember that this is a process and it’s not going to happen overnight.
It takes time and effort to change an ingrained behavior, so be patient with yourself.
You won’t stop being clingy overnight.
If you find that you’re struggling, don’t be too hard on yourself.
Just keep working at it and eventually, you will get there.
9. Don’t Define Yourself by Your Clinginess
One last thing to remember is that you are not defined by your clinginess.
This is just one small part of who you are and it’s not the be-all and end-all.
Just because you might be clingy in your relationship doesn’t mean that you’re a bad person or that you’re not worthy of love.
Everyone has their own quirks and flaws and this is just one of yours.
You have your good side too.
You are beautiful, smart, caring, and loving.
You’re so much more than being clingy, so don’t define yourself by your clinginess.
I hope this article has given you some useful tips on how to stop being a clingy girlfriend.
Remember to be patient with yourself and keep working at it eventually, you will get there.
Good luck!
