When Your Past Makes You Overreact to Your Spouse

Paul discusses how past relationships and family patterns colour how we see and react to our spouse—using his experiences with his mother and a high school girlfriend as examples. He explains how unmet childhood needs can make us overly hungry for intimacy and affirmation, and how old wounds make small spouse behaviours feel much bigger than they are. Practical steps: notice when your reaction is disproportionate, identify the original wound, and mentally separate your spouse from the person who hurt you so your marriage can be healed and simpler.