Healthy Relationships

Relationships happen on a spectrum from healthy to unhealthy.

Healthy relationships are mutual, where everyone acts with care toward each other. Let’s compare aspects of the relationship spectrum:

Relationships can be difficult. It’s important to know what your limits are in your relationships. How many names will you be called before setting boundaries or leaving the relationship? How much money will they take from you before you switch bank accounts so they have no access? How many bruises will they leave on you before they stop having access to you?

Despite what others say, it can be difficult to navigate situations when relationships begin to become unhealthy. It’s easier to justify a one-time situation, explain away a bad circumstance to why they acted the way they do. Don’t let others tell you that you’re wrong, bully you about how you are handling situations. Believe in yourself that you are doing your best, and making the best decisions for yourself right now.

When you’re setting boundaries in your relationships, especially after an incident of unhealthy conflict or abuse, it can be difficult to make the changes in expectations and hold everyone to the new expectations. Take your time to consider what your hard lines are - what will you absolutely not put up with? What will you remind them of your expectation to change and how many times will you remind them? How will you help yourself hold these boundaries?