According to experts, jealousy is ultimately a manifestation of insecurity. In general, if a person grew up secure in his relationships with family and friends, he is less likely to feel threatened by his partner’s relationship with others.

Experts say that you should work at understanding that during the course of any relationship, some amount of jealousy is normal. But you must also be aware of the warning signs that your feelings of jealousy are going haywire.

Your partner has given you no reason to believe he is unfaithful, yet you find yourself or acting in the following ways:

1. You become suspicious whenever he gets a phone call from another woman, or when you see him speaking with a woman you don’t know. It is natural to be curious about the people in your partner’s life. If your curiosity is motivated by suspicion, however, or a feeling that your relationship is being threatened by his casual friendships with other women, then you may be headed for trouble.
2. You search through his things when he is not around. You read his mail, look through his phone book, listen to his answering machine, search his drawers and check his pockets. In short, you constantly look for any bit of evidence that he has been unfaithful.
3. You believe your partner should sever his relationship with any woman who is not a family member. Yes, there is such a thing as a platonic friendship between men and women. If your partner is open about his friendships with other women and if the boundaries of your relationship are clear and respected by his female friends, then why should you panic every time he hangs out with one of them?
4. His boys’ nights out make you extremely nervous. He spends quality time with you, but when he says the guys are getting together to watch the game or have a drink, you suspect they are really out scoring with the gals.
5. You follow him, check up on him when he’s out, and become suspicious when he is a little late getting home. Unless you are absolutely sure your man is cheating on you and are determined to get proof so you can end the relationship, there is no excuse for this kind of behavior. Remember, if a man really wants to cheat, monitoring his behavior will not stop him.