Contributed by: Jet on Monday, October 10 2011 @ 09:01 am
Last modified on
Quite often, being in a good relationship can be like being on a team - a team comprised of you and your partner. You always have each other’s back, and the drama of life is just a little bit easier when it’s split between the two of you. It’s a cliche, but there’s a reason why couples often refer to their partner as their best friend.
However, like almost anything in life, the concept of two against the world can have a dark side as well. An abusive person could attempt to isolate their partner, shutting them off from everyone else. How do you know whether you’re in a close, comfortable relationship, or whether you’re in one that has become unhealthy?
Well, if you’re seriously asking yourself this question and you don’t know the answer, that might be a red flag right there. But there are some who simply second-guess every decision, and there are others who might have been in a bad relationship in the past and fear getting trapped in one again. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
Does your partner encourage you to have a life outside your relationship? Or are all your interests and free time spent together, with their encouragement? Do you still spend time with friends and family, or have your relationships become completely neglected? These questions can be difficult to answer at the beginning of a relationship, because people get infatuated and tend to neglect everything - it’s up to you to discern if your isolation is excessive.
Other questions have to involve your gut responses. Do you consider yourself generally happy, or do you think you can only achieve happiness through your partner? Do you stay with your partner because you think you can’t do any better? Are you unhappy in your relationship more than you’re happy?
If these questions stir up more uncertainties, perhaps your relationship is worth examining. An unhealthy relationship will only keep everyone involved from happiness in the long run; it’s far better to confront these issues and potentially break up than stay in an unhealthy situation. And remember, you don’t have to tackle these issues alone; don’t be afraid to go to family, friends or professionals for opinions or support!