Photo Derrick T
Women are devastated by failing relationships, says Nando Pelusi, Ph.D., while men flail more over unattainable relationships.
After a one-year relationship with a difficult boyfriend, my client had to face the facts: “I’ve spent so much time and energy on this guy, I just can’t believe it’s not going to work.” Amid her tears she also realized that she didn’t even like the guy, who had kept her at arm’s length and endlessly proclaimed his inability to commit. She was gripped by what she always feels when she realizes a relationship is troubled—a grim determination to make it work no matter what.
The next client to enter my office wasn’t crying, but he was grief-stricken about a relationship that just didn’t get off the ground. He couldn’t understand why a woman he pursued with elaborate overtures (and cold hard cash) never really responded. He ruminated for hours about why nothing worked.
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