If you've been in a serious relationship for while, it's likely that jealousy has reared its ugly head once or twice. Or perhaps your wife or girlfriend attracts too much male attention and it just makes your blood boil. No matter what the cause, jealousy is a strong and powerful human emotion that can quickly wreak havoc on your relationship if you don't get it under control. Jealousy in relationships doesn't often pop up and become an all-encompassing beast overnight.

It's natural for everyone to feel jealous once in a while. What's not natural is allowing jealousy to take over your life. Someone who is insecure about themselves or whose ex cheated on them is more likely to feel jealous than someone who is confident and hasn't been burned. Insecurity makes people less trusting and more suspicious. Perceived threats and slights can quickly built into something big and ugly. No one wants a controlling, jealous mate. Jealousy must be addressed.

Consider a hypothetical couple, William and Jane. William's last girlfriend was unfaithful and he has never truly healed from the pain she caused him. He and Jane have been together for 6 months now and have a good relationship. The only problem is that William is intensely jealous. He controls Jane's relationships with her male co-workers and limits her time with male friends. He feels very upset when she talks with other men or when other men approach and compliment her.

It's not impossible to overcome a jealous nature if you're willing to put forth a bit of hard work for the good of your relationship. The first step is admitting that you have a problem and discovering the root of the problem. Jealousy stems from a wide array of reasons: abandonment issues, fear of being shamed, fear of being wronged, fear of loss of love, and so much more. Tell yourself that your concern is simply not true and that you will be greater than your fear.