Calm his new-couple nerves: help him go from single guy to serious boyfriend with these four tips. (his point of view).

It's one of the great unsolved mysteries of male conduct: Why does a guy who is psyched during the dating phase panic once things get serious? Blame biology--no matter how into you we are, our brains are hardwired to go ballistic over losing our independence. The fear? Never fully sowing our wild oats. Yeah, it's dumb. But don't get upset; help us overcome our commitment jitters. Here, easy ways to do it.

button up the b word

All guys have a love-hate relationship with the term boyfriend. As much as we may want to be yours, hearing you utter it too early can convince us we'll never be able to leave the toilet seat up or watch Junkyard Wars again. So keep quiet until he says it first. Trust me, it'll happen sooner than you think. "Before my girlfriend and I became an official couple, we were at a club when some dude started hitting on her," says Dave *, 23. "So I blurted out that I was her boyfriend. She smiled and asked, 'You are, huh?' Because I said it before she did, the word didn't freak me out at all."

let him be with his buds

Even the most mature guy secretly fears that a deeper relationship with you means deep-sixing his posse. But if you tell him you want him to go out with his boys, he'll have no reason to be skittish. In fact, allowing him to be with his buddies will make him more eager to spend time with you. Says Donnie, 31. "The more freedom my girl gave me to see my friends, the more I couldn't wait to get home to her." When we ...