Are you in an unhealthy relationship?
You feel good with your partner in a healthy relationship. If you always feel bad when you are with them, you could be in a toxic relationship. How do you know? Here are some clues that can help you figure it out.
What is a unhealthy relationship?
Sometimes we fall in love with someone who hurts us. If your boyfriend or girlfriend…
- Insults you
- Asks you not to see your friends anymore or try to get you away from your family
- Forces you to have sex or insist to have intercourse
- Blackmail you
- Try to manipulate you
- Or have uncontrollable reactions that scare you
…there’s no doubt that you’re in an unhealthy relationship. Nothing justifies violent behaviour.
He/she promises to make an effort but nothing changes.
A toxic person may also be nice for a while and then become hurtful or violent again. Your partner may promise to change and make an effort, but it’s very hard to overhaul one’s personality! If you don’t see any changes, it’s possible the other person will never change. Never compromise on your sense of security and well-being.
👉 All these examples are warning signs. ✋
You can’t choose who you fall in love with. But you can decide whether or not to stay in a relationship. If you have any doubts, talk to an adult you trust. And be sure you have good people around you, especially if you decide to break up.
What a healthy romantic relationship should look like?
- Lots of communication 💬 💌
This is the foundation! In love, we need room to say what we feel, to listen, and to feel that the other person is listening to us, even at difficult times. - A big scoop of commitment 📖
If you’re important to each other, you find time to be together, and you share the same vision of the relationship, that’s a good sign! - A large cupful of trust ☕️
Trust is built up gradually. In a good relationship, you feel more and more comfortable with the other person, and more and more able to be your true self. You know you can count on your partner and he/she can count on you. - A big pinch of balance ⚖️
In a relationship, there has to be room for both people’s plans, ideas, needs, and expectations. Both partners feel equally important, and each one can make decisions. - A dash of magic ❤️
Love, humour, sharing, harmony, togetherness… Each day, love is revealed in a wealth of small acts of respect and affection. Every couple is unique!
Can you identify these ingredients in your relationship? 🤔 Do the people around you have healthy relationships? If you’re wondering, talk about it with a friend, an adult you trust, or the team at Tel-jeunes!
