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How to Cope When Your Significant Other’s in Better Shape Than You
Hannah Salberg dreads bathing suit season.
— -- Summer brings warmer temperatures and thoughts of hitting the beach, but the show of skin that results can cause serious anxiety for some people, including Hannah Salberg.
That's because she thinks her boyfriend, Dalton Wojan, is more physically fit than she is. The 23-year-old media industry employee admits that her insecurities come to the fore when she wears a bikini next to her 24-year-old marathon-runner boyfriend.
The two live in New York, but met while studying abroad in Paris.
"I was shoving croissants down my throat and he was training for a marathon," Salberg said, telling ABC News that, like many women, she dreads bathing suit season.
"You would think that would change when you are in a relationship because that person loves you, but I definitely still do feel self-conscious at the beach, especially next to somebody who is so active," she said.
Salberg isn't alone. While the evidence is anecdotal, experts say it's not uncommon for couples to feel anxiety when one person doesn't feel as attractive as his or her partner.
"Wearing bathing suits and going to the beach can be tough on a couple if one or both members doesn't feel completely happy with their body," Hayley MacMillen, editor of the lifestyle website Refinery29, said, adding this advice for couples: "Talk to each other about how you feel and work through insecurities together."
Salberg and Wojan said communication has been key to helping them avoid conflicts over the issue.
"He has seen some serious meltdowns where I am shopping and trying on things and ... nothing looks good and it breaks you down emotionally," Salberg said, adding that it was "important to have someone who is a good listener and lets you vent."
For his part, Wojan said "just celebrating what I love about her -- I know that brings confidence to her."
Experts also say it's important that those with anxiety find something that they love about themselves.
"You love the way your shoulders look strong in the bikini you have, or you love that your legs can power you through a long walk ... that will bring your whole self-image up," MacMillen said.
Salberg has found that thing.
"Feeling confident in my chest and my curviness and knowing that it is unique to who I am and celebrating that at the beach has helped overpower the insecurities," she said.
That newfound confidence now shines through, Wojan said.
"Even being at the beach she has got this different strut about her when she is feeling more confident. I love it," he said.
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