Honest and open communication is the key to all healthy relationships, including those you may have with a romantic partner. Here are some signs to help you know the difference between relationships that are healthy and unhealthy:
Healthy | Unhealthy |
---|---|
You listen to each other | You talk “at” each other instead of “to” each other or you don’t listen when your partner is talking |
You fight fair (no name calling, swearing) | You call each other names, swear, yell and say intentionally mean or hurtful things |
You enjoy spending time together | You would rather spend time with other people or spend time alone |
When you have a problem, you talk to each other | You talk to friends and other people instead of your partner when you have a problem |
You are caring toward each other | You don’t show affection or respect each other |
You know things about each other and you remember the “little things” | You don’t know details about your partner’s life, likes and dislikes and you don’t pay attention to the “little things” |
You make time for each other as well as yourself | You don’t spend quality time together or you don’t allow each other to spend time with their friends or family |
You disagree respectfully | You call each other’s ideas and opinions silly or stupid |
You have fun and are playful together | You are always serious together and never joke or have fun |
You express appreciation for each other | You don’t say thank you |
You actively try to surprise them or make them happy | You don’t make extra efforts to do things to make your partner happy |
You know how each other best shows and receives love | You only focus on how you want to be shown love and what you like or want |
You can be yourself with each other | You pretend to be someone you aren’t to impress your partner |
You trust each other | You tell lies, are jealous and regularly do not believe each other |
You are happy when good things happen to each other | You are resentful and jealous when your partner succeeds |
You don’t hide things or keep secrets | You hide your phone and social media, lie about who you’re with, where you are or what you’re doing |
You like each other’s friends and family, and they like you | You don’t get along with each other’s friends and family |
You know their goals and you support them | You don’t know what they want in life or you aren’t supportive |
It’s easy to list things you like about each other | It’s easier to list things you dislike about each other than like |
You think about each other often | When you’re not together it’s as if you aren’t in a relationship |
You know each other’s pasts, but don’t judge them for it | You frequently bring up each other’s histories or judge them for past actions |
You hang out with other people, not just each other | You are only ever with each other, you blow off your friends and family |
You are teammates | You act selfishly or take advantage of each other |
You have identities as a couple and as individuals | You only identify in terms of a couple, you are not your own person |
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