Hi. Me (F/18) and my boyfriend (M/18) have been dating for about 5 months. I’ve been feeling a lot of pressure to be “perfect” in my relationship, and it feels tied to masking. I’m always trying to act and do things the “right” way, but it’s exhausting. I freeze up, overthink, and second-guess myself constantly. Deep down, I’m scared that if I stop masking or show my real self, my boyfriend won’t love me the same.
I want to connect authentically, but my insecurity and fear of rejection hold me back. Does anyone else struggle with masking and perfectionism in relationships? How do you stay true to yourself while dealing with all that fear?
TL;DR: I feel like I have to mask and be perfect in my relationship, but it’s exhausting and makes me scared to be myself.