It's flattering when a man makes you feel like he wants you all for himself but if it becomes an everyday thing and it affects your ability to have your own life outside of the relationship then there might be a problem. He may be deeply in love you and care a lot about you but it's no excuse to be domineering and controlling. Unsure whether your man is the overprotective type? Here are some signs that he might be.
He pressures you to commit early
An overprotective boyfriend's behaviour all stems from his insecurity. If he is quick to bring the relationship to a new level, wanting to see you all the time and telling you he loves you even if it's too early in the relationship, there's a good chance that he might be overprotective. He is insecure about his inability to keep you interested that he'll want to move the relationship quickly so as to lock you in.
He thinks everyone likes you
Every guy that talks to you or makes you laugh instantly becomes a threat to him. He thinks anyone willing to talk to you for longer than seconds is flirting with you and will try to prevent you from getting close to other guys or even friends you've known before meeting him. And when someone does try to hit on you and ask you out, he will say "I told you so!" like it's your fault.
He makes all the choices
Whether it's the places you eat at or even the clothes you wear, he makes all the choices. He wants every decision, even the smallest ones, to go through him because of his need to be a figure of authority. He wants to be able to control everything which is a sign of overprotective behaviour.
He doesn't respect your privacy
He monitors your texts, emails, and phone calls even when you have done nothing to warrant such suspicions. He would rather snoop around your phone or email before confronting you setting you up for an argument you won't win anyway. The constant reassurance that you are not cheating or fooling around is needed to feed an overprotective man's insecurity.
He chooses your friends
He's so overprotective that he even gets to choose which friends you can hang out with. He will tell you to stop hanging out with any friend that he feels can lead you astray and cause problems. He doesn't trust you enough to make a sound judgment of your own leaving you to be dependent on him on the choices that you make.
He wants to protect you (all the time)
He starts taking over your responsibilities which makes you even more dependent on him. Every girl wants to feel protected by her man but if it comes to a point where you have no more life outside of his, be careful. It doesn't always mean that he really likes you. He could just be extremely jealous which is another component of overprotective behaviour.
He wants everything to revolve around him
He'll respond negatively to everything that you do that does not involve him. If you do certain things in private, he doesn't respect your personal boundaries and won't mind meddling. This gives him a sense of control over you which is what every overprotective man wants to have.
In Summary
There's a big thick line between a loving boyfriend and a controlling one. We hope these signs help you tell the difference between the two.
If you suspect that your boyfriend might be overprotective, confront him about his behaviour in a calm manner and explain that continuing to do so will only do more harm to your relationship than good. If he persists, the best route to take might be to end the relationship.
Ever dated an overprotective man before? Share with us your experience or advice in the comments section.
