Re: How do I deal with this pattern in my life?
It seems to me that nobody can make you feel jealous, because jealousy derives from a low self-esteem, which belongs to your area of responsibility. A low self-esteem can be exploited by another person who probably has some issue with their self-image as well.
Thus if you want to stop playing this game it may pay to get rid off a low self-esteem. A low self-esteem can be caused by an unacknowledged metabolic disorder, that pumps stress hormones in you affecting one's self-image and/or learned reaction to one's negative self-image.
Both of these can be treated without recourse to drugs.
See:
Treatment of a Low Self-Esteem at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/psychotherapy/TOLSE.html
I hope this explains it.
_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman BA (Psych) Post Grad Dip Clin Nutr
Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search