Dr. Robin Stern

And what's amazing, and I wonder, Amanda, whether this was true for you too, at the very beginning of a relationship, there are signs.

And what's amazing, and I wonder, Amanda, whether this was true for you too, at the very beginning of a relationship, there are signs.

And what's amazing, and I wonder, Amanda, whether this was true for you too, at the very beginning of a relationship, there are signs.

Hmm. Somebody does something that you just think this is off, but you're not paying attention to that at that moment because what you're paying attention to is I'm so attracted to him. I think he's my soulmate. Oh my God, he's so smart. I've never been able to have a conversation like this. He's so kind. This is what I hear in my practice. He knows how to be intimate.

Hmm. Somebody does something that you just think this is off, but you're not paying attention to that at that moment because what you're paying attention to is I'm so attracted to him. I think he's my soulmate. Oh my God, he's so smart. I've never been able to have a conversation like this. He's so kind. This is what I hear in my practice. He knows how to be intimate.

Hmm. Somebody does something that you just think this is off, but you're not paying attention to that at that moment because what you're paying attention to is I'm so attracted to him. I think he's my soulmate. Oh my God, he's so smart. I've never been able to have a conversation like this. He's so kind. This is what I hear in my practice. He knows how to be intimate.

Like I just need to be with him.

Like I just need to be with him.

Like I just need to be with him.

I can't win this. That's not an unimportant thing that you just said. The fact that you would say, Abby- I'm hurt. I can't win this. I'm hurt. Like you're sharing your authentic self. You are able to have an authentic conversation. You trust enough that you can share your feelings.

I can't win this. That's not an unimportant thing that you just said. The fact that you would say, Abby- I'm hurt. I can't win this. I'm hurt. Like you're sharing your authentic self. You are able to have an authentic conversation. You trust enough that you can share your feelings.

I can't win this. That's not an unimportant thing that you just said. The fact that you would say, Abby- I'm hurt. I can't win this. I'm hurt. Like you're sharing your authentic self. You are able to have an authentic conversation. You trust enough that you can share your feelings.

That's different than in a relationship where you really feel that every time you open your mouth, like, oh, there you go again, using your psychology on me, you know, or something.

That's different than in a relationship where you really feel that every time you open your mouth, like, oh, there you go again, using your psychology on me, you know, or something.

That's different than in a relationship where you really feel that every time you open your mouth, like, oh, there you go again, using your psychology on me, you know, or something.

And it's such a familiar story. You know, you go on a date with somebody or you, you meet someone for the first time, you have a great connection and you go out to dinner and you write a nice note saying, great to meet you. And you don't hear from that person. And then a week later, that person calls you and says, you know, let's get together again. And you

And it's such a familiar story. You know, you go on a date with somebody or you, you meet someone for the first time, you have a great connection and you go out to dinner and you write a nice note saying, great to meet you. And you don't hear from that person. And then a week later, that person calls you and says, you know, let's get together again. And you

And it's such a familiar story. You know, you go on a date with somebody or you, you meet someone for the first time, you have a great connection and you go out to dinner and you write a nice note saying, great to meet you. And you don't hear from that person. And then a week later, that person calls you and says, you know, let's get together again. And you

you're not thinking to yourself, do I want to get together with somebody who waited a week to respond to my text? Do I like that? And maybe the first time you say, okay, who knows, maybe she had COVID, maybe she was on a business trip, whatever. But when somebody regularly treats you like that, we are more like, what's going on with her? I wonder why she doesn't respond right away.

you're not thinking to yourself, do I want to get together with somebody who waited a week to respond to my text? Do I like that? And maybe the first time you say, okay, who knows, maybe she had COVID, maybe she was on a business trip, whatever. But when somebody regularly treats you like that, we are more like, what's going on with her? I wonder why she doesn't respond right away.