Whether things seem difficult or pretty much perfect, you may be wondering, “Is my relationship healthy?” The following information can help you determine if you and your partner have a healthy relationship.
Foundation of a Healthy Relationship
Relationships are an important part of healthy living. Whom you choose to include in your life can impact your future tremendously—for better or worse. So, it’s important to understand what a healthy relationship looks like. While everyone has certain likes and dislikes in a partner, all healthy relationships should include a connection built on:
- Mutual respect
- Trust
- Honesty
- Support
- Equality
- Freedom to be yourself
- Good communication
- Having fun together
There is no perfect relationship. Two completely different people will have different opinions and disagree at times. Relationships built on the characteristics listed above have a good foundation for handling conflict and facing the challenges of life together. Successful relationships require effort from both partners.
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Characteristics of a Healthy Relationship
It’s normal for a relationship to experience stress at times. However, healthy relationships add more happiness than stress to your life. In a healthy relationship, you can:
- Take care of yourself
- Respect one another
- Continue relationships with friends and family
- Have separate activities but also take an interest in each other’s activities
- Express yourself without fear
- Feel secure and comfortable
- Have no concerns about violence in the relationship
- Be honest and trust each other
- Have privacy
- Have respect for sexual boundaries
- Resolve conflict fairly
Qualities of an Unhealthy Relationship
We already know there’s no such thing as a perfect relationship, so how can you tell the difference between a good relationship that needs some work and a truly unhealthy one? Sometimes, it’s helpful to recognize what makes a relationship unhealthy. But, before we take a look at some unhealthy qualities, please note even a healthy relationship may show some of these characteristics. However, they will be infrequent and will not cause long-term stress and tension. Signs of an unhealthy relationship include:
- Neglecting your health
- Pressure to change who you are for the other person
- Feeling worried when you disagree with the other person
- Pressure to quit activities you used to enjoy
- Expecting the other person to always agree with you
- Needing to justify your actions (like where you go, who you see)
- One partner feels obligated or forced to have sex
- A lack of privacy – being forced to share everything with the other person
- Arguments are not settled fairly
- Yelling or physical violence
- Attempts to control each other (how you dress, who you talk to, etc.)
- Not making time to spend together
- No common friends or a lack of respect for each other’s friends and family
- Unequal control of resources (such as food, money, home, car, etc.)
- Lack of equality
Abuse in Relationships
Sadly, unhealthy relationships sometimes become abusive. If you believe your relationship is unhealthy or even abusive, you may be wondering what your next step should be. Please seek help if your partner has physically or sexually harmed you. If you don’t feel safe ending the relationship on your own, there are professionals who can help. You may also contact Jewel Women’s Center and we will connect you with a local organization that can help. Jewel Women’s Center is a non-profit organization serving Schuylkill County, PA, and surrounding areas. We provide confidential services and support at no cost to individuals facing a pregnancy decision.