Rebecca syndrome could be damaging to your health, experts warn

Jealousy is ab-h.

Rebecca syndrome, also known as “retroactive jealousy”, is having a terrible impact on relationships, psychotherapists have warned, as experts note an increase in inquiries about the condition.

In a recent blog post by psychotherapist Toby Ingham, he described people with Rebecca syndrome as people who are “obsessed” with their partner’s ex-partner.

Psychoanalyst Dr. Darian Leader was inspired by Daphne du Maurier’s 1938 gothic novel Rebecca to create this condition. The novel tells the story of a young woman whose actions reveal her own insecurities and those of her relationship. She developed jealous traits after discovering information about her partner’s ex.

Ingham said the popular psychology term has gained traction in Google searches since 2018 as patients self-diagnose their own “obsessive-compulsive issues.”

“This is not a good idea,” Ingham wrote.

Signs of this condition can be pinpointed when a partner is jealous of their partner’s ex or previous sexual or romantic relationships.

People with this disorder find themselves comparing their appearance, intelligence, and sexual intimacy to previous romantic partners. Rebecca Syndrome can make people insecure and question everything about their relationships.

This obsession can lead to obsessional neurosis, which “describes a condition in which the mind is invaded by obsessive words, images, or thoughts. These are uncontrollable, obsessive thoughts that dominate the brain,” Ingham writes online described in detail.

Ingham acknowledges that retroactive jealousy does not arise within a relationship; It comes from childhood.

Ingham told MailOnline: “While these early problems are unique to each of us, they may be related to us feeling neglected by our parents who preferred one of our siblings.” “Or it could be because we feel unimportant or left out in our family of origin.”

The expert adds that people tend to project their own insecurities and personal issues onto current relationships, which can harm the dynamic.

“Ask yourself if your anxiety and your intrusive thoughts are actually related to your own past rather than your current relationship,” Ingham says.

An interview-based study conducted in 2018 found that social media encourages retroactive jealousy because users can easily view details of their partners’ past relationships. However, Ingham advises people to avoid talking about the past if they can’t leave it there.

“Don’t ask about your partner’s past, especially their sexual history. Oversharing tends to bother us at the beginning of a new relationship,” he says.