You meet a guy you like, and the relationship has been going great until you start to notice he wants to be with you all the time.
And that’s not exactly the dream you had when it comes to having a boyfriend.
That’s where learning how to deal with a clingy boyfriend comes in handy,
It will help ensure your relationship stays on track and doesn’t get derailed by his neediness.
If you’ve been looking for a way to handle the issue, this article is for you.
5 Healthy Ways To Deal With A Clingy Boyfriend
1. Set Boundaries
If your boyfriend is starting to become too clingy, it’s important to set boundaries early on.
Let him know what you’re comfortable with and what you’re not.
If he starts getting jealous or moody when you spend time with other people, this might indicate that he is controlling or possessive.
Tell him you won’t tolerate his invasion of your privacy or constant tracking of your whereabouts.
If your guy wants to spend every moment together and gets upset if you leave for work or anything else,
It might signify jealousy and insecurity, which could eventually lead to violence in extreme cases.
2. Don’t Panic
Being clingy is often a reaction to feeling insecure in the relationship.
The first step is to try and understand why your boyfriend is being clingy.
Is something going on in his life that’s making him feel insecure?
Once you know the root of the problem, you can address it.
For example, try to spend more time with him if he feels like he’s not getting enough attention from you.
You could also ease his worries by telling him what’s happening in your life – this will show him that you’re committed to the relationship.
3. Give Space
One of the best ways to deal with a clingy boyfriend is to give him some space.
It can be suffocating if he’s constantly texting you or wanting to spend every waking moment with you.
Encourage him to have some time to himself and pursue other interests.
It will give you both the much-needed breathing space and help to avoid any feelings of resentment.
Set specific times during the day when you’ll text each other and stick to it as closely as possible.
4. Change Your Phone Habits
If you’re used to texting or talking on the phone with your boyfriend all the time, it’s time to change your habits.
Tell him you need some space and you’ll still be available at certain times of the day.
It will give you both some time apart to miss each other and make the time you do spend together even more special.
Although my girlfriend and I talk often, we give each other the space to pursue other things.
5. Learn To Say No
It can be difficult to learn to say no, especially if you’re used to being a people pleaser.
But it’s important to set boundaries in every relationship, including with your boyfriend.
If he’s constantly texting or calling, tell him you need some space and time.
Explain that you care about him, but sometimes you need time alone.
Tell him in a way that wouldn’t make him withdraw or resent you.
If he doesn’t listen to or respect your wishes, then you have to think about your safety because it would mean he’s addicted to you, and that could end badly.
6. Address His Insecurities
The first step in dealing with a clingy boyfriend is addressing his insecurities.
It will only make him more clingy if he feels like he is constantly being compared to other guys or that he isn’t good enough for you.
Talk to him about what makes him unique and special to you.
Compliment him often and let him know you appreciate all the little things he does for you.
Ask him questions about himself so he can share who he is with you.
Your boyfriend might have been clingy because of his negative life experiences;
An abusive childhood, a series of failed relationships, and being cheated on in the past can make him insecure.
7. Encourage Him To Have His Own Life
It can be flattering when your boyfriend wants to spend every waking minute with you.
But after a while, it can start to feel suffocating.
The best thing you can do is encourage him to have his own life outside of your relationship.
It will give him something to focus on besides you and make him better-rounded. Plus, it’ll give you some space.
Encourage him to hang out with his friends; if he doesn’t have friends, he can make new ones.
You can also inspire him to learn a new skill, which would give him less time to be clingy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is My Boyfriend Clingy?
There are a few reasons why your boyfriend might be clingy, and they are listed below:
He’s insecure
He has low self-esteem
He has mental health issues
He has an adverse childhood
He was cheated on in the past
What Are The Signs Of a Clingy Boyfriend?
He has no social life: if your boyfriend has only you as his friend and no social life, that’s a sign he’s clingy.
If he wants to be indoors with you and doesn’t have friends to hang out with except you, then he’s likely a clingy guy.
In a healthy relationship, you are supposed to have other friends you hang out with apart from who you are dating.
If you are his only friend, you would be responsible for his happiness which might be too much for you to handle.
He wants to monitor your movements: if you have a guy who wants to know where you are and who you are with at any given time, that’s a sign he’s clingy.
A clingy guy would monitor your calls or texts and could even install a tracker on your phone to know your exact location.
His actions to know every detail about your movements can be suffocating.
He might insist you cut ties with your male friends because he’s uncomfortable with them around you.
He wants to spend every minute with you: a clingy guy would want to spend every minute with you and won’t want to give you any breathing space.
He might get angry the moment you have to go somewhere without him and would often keep calling you to be sure you didn’t go elsewhere.
How To Set Boundaries With A Clingy Boyfriend?
Talk to him about it: maybe he’s unaware he’s clingy.
Tell him you appreciate his kind gestures, but some of his actions are clingy, and he’s beginning to suffocate you.
If you don’t tell him the truth about his actions, you might start resenting him.
Encourage him to have a social life: encourage him to make friends or learn a new skill; it would help distract him from wanting to be with you all the time.
Encourage him to be close to his friends and attend family occasions like weddings that way,
He would have other activities that would make him less clingy.
Convince him to sign up for therapy: maybe your boyfriend is clingy due to his adverse childhood experience.
Such a situation would require a certified therapist to help him unveil why he’s clingy.
After you’ve spoken to him about his attitude, you can encourage him to sign up for therapy and go with him to provide emotional support.