Relationships can be fun and, honestly, they can help form who you become as a person. However, when a relationship starts to become more or a hassle or uncomfortable, then the relationship can become detrimental to your health. Relationships (family ties, friendships, romantic relations) are all structured differently and can evoke different feelings from us. Learning the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships early on and noticing warning signs is vital to maintaining your own safety.
Healthy relationships can extract the best qualities from us and help motivate us to reach all the goals we wish to achieve. Being in a healthy relationship means that your feel like your own person who can make decisions without pressure or fear of how the other person will react. Being able to have your own friends and social life is a key part of having a healthy relationship. Once you are secure as a person then you will not feel the need to control somebody else's actions. Being able to trust the person you have a relationship with is the main thing that is going to keep the relationship strong because once trust is broken it can be near impossible to go back to how things used to be. Being able to openly express how you feel and why you are feeling that way can be one of the healthiest things possible.
Toxic relationships can consume you without you ever realizing it. There are red flags, but when you're in the relationship it can be hard to spot behaviors that aren't right. When you feel that you are being controlled or you feel a discomfort around someone, then that is a clear red flag and you should find a way to distance yourself from that person. Usually, when there is one red flag, many follow in pursuit and it can lead to a danger and violent outcomes. Feeling trapped, suffocated, or stalked is also an indicator that your relationship is not healthy; you should feel free to make your own choices and not have to constantly check up with someone. Abuse isn't just physical; emotional and financial abuse exist and can be just as damaging as physical abuse. Emotional abuse can come from someone putting you down, calling you names, or making you feel less than in any way. Financial abuse can come from someone controlling your money, preventing it from making money, or someone claiming your money as their own.
In the end, you should always surround yourself with people who make you happy, feel safe, and genuinely care about you. Being in a relationship and having relationships with others can be amazing, but putting others before yourself will not end okay. Remember to put yourself first and then the rest will fall into place.
