While no relationship is perfect, it’s fair to say that we all desire a healthy one.
But many of us find ourselves in relationships that are dissatisfying or detrimental to our emotional and mental wellbeing.
A survey commissioned by money-transfer service TransferWise and carried out by YouGov revealed that 60% of us tolerate and stay in bad relationships that we don’t find fulfilling, while silently accepting our partner’s negative behaviours.
So, what constitutes a healthy relationship and how can you and your partner build one to keep the love and bond strong, happy and everlasting?
Read on to find out.
In short, a healthy relationship is one that is positive, compatible and adaptable.
However, it really depends on the people involved. There isn’t one rule for a healthy relationship, as everyone has different needs and expectations.
Your needs regarding communication, sex, affection, space, morals, values, life goals and interests may differ from your partner’s, which can impact the health of your relationship.
For example, if your partner prefers to have a polyamorous relationship as opposed to a more traditional relationship, they may define a healthy relationship differently, which may not work for you.
Both you and your partner’s outlook on life may also change as you experience different phases in your life, which is normal.
However, it’s important for you and your partner to address and deal with your differences to avoid the risk of an unhealthy relationship.
First and foremost, it’s important to know that no healthy relationship can be built by one person alone. Both partners must work together to create healthy interactions within the relationship.
If both partners want to know how to have a healthy relationship, they should start with the following behaviours:
A toxic relationship can provoke a lot of suffering, and in most cases, people in this kind of relationship can feel more alone than if they were single.
It can also damage future relationships, as the person can bring their emotional and psychological baggage from negative past experiences on to a new relationship.
To better identify the signs of a toxic relationship, it’s important to pay attention to the following signals:
Once you are able to identify that your relationship is toxic, you should prepare yourself to leave.
Regardless of the type of relationship you have, it is always hard to effectively break up. That’s why it is important to not isolate yourself from supportive networks such as family and friends.
Talk about your relationship issues with people you trust or even a professional, like a therapist, as it will help you to better understand and evaluate your situation and help you decide the right time to end the relationship.
Finally, always think and prioritise your wellbeing and don’t be afraid of putting an end to a toxic relationship.
It is common to have fear of being alone, which encourages people to try harder to keep some relationships.
However, if it is not a healthy relationship or a rather toxic one, you can feel even more isolated while putting your emotional and mental health at risk.
The first step for you to be in a healthy relationship is to find happiness within yourself first. This will make it easier to find the right partner and have a healthy and happy relationship.
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