The “ick.” Whether you know what it means or not, you’ve definitely felt it.
It’s that spine shiver you get when someone does or says something that just seems to make your whole body cringe.
Something like chewing with their mouth open or being rude to staff at a restaurant, or it can be something way more specific.
So what exactly is ‘the ick,’ what causes it, and should you end a relationship if your other half does something that makes your stomach drop, and not in a good way?
What is ‘the ick?’
It’s a phrase that Gen Z took and ran with, partly thanks to Love Island.
The onomatopoeic word describes a feeling of repulsion that suddenly crops up with a romantic partner.
Different from a pet peeve, it’s more about things that a certain individual will do or say that just make you cringe.
“The ick is different from just doubting whether you want to be with somebody,” says Gurpreet Singh, a relationship counsellor and psychotherapist at Relate.
“The ick is much more repulsive. It’s a very strong gut reaction, either to the mannerisms of the person or the way they behave.”
Does it ever stop?
It can but it can also stick around, it really depends what it is and how often it sends a shiver down your spine.
There’s a difference between something that ends a relationship and something that could qualify as a pet peeve.
If you’re trying to figure out the difference ask yourself, “If my celebrity crush or someone I found jaw-droppingly attractive did this, would I still be bothered?”
If the answer is yes, it’s probably a pet peeve.
If it’s something bothering you specifically about your partner it could a sign of something more.
What if I get the ick?
You don’t have to toss out your wedding band or start packing up your partner’s stuff, it’s not an exact science to base your life off.
If it’s something you know you can’t stand, sit down with your partner and work it out ask these feels of digust are usually about something small.
If your conversation does have the results you wanted or if the thing you have an issue with is something your other half can’t change then you may need to go further.
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