Healthy Relationships

Respect, Honesty, Trust & Communication:

Respect
Learning about and valuing what is important to each other.

Honesty
Being candid about thoughts, feelings, and the desired direction of the relationship will allow both you and your partner the opportunity to simultaneously explore yourselves and the relationship.

Trust
Over time, trusting your partner will be necessary for a healthy relationship, but in the beginning trust is not automatic – it has to be earned. Always trust yourself to be who you are and to look out for your well-being. It is important to remember that trust is hard to earn but easy to destroy.

Communication
Communication is equal parts listening and speaking. When you and your partner are communicating, try to make them feel justified in their emotions. Repeat what is said as you understand it and ask if you understand the situation correctly. Don’t expect your partner to read your mind. Be as clear and direct as possible.

Are you in a healthy relationship?

Sometimes, when a relationship is starting to become toxic, it may be difficult to recognize. Below is a guided list of questions to determine if your relationship is healthy.

Does someone you care about…?

• Constantly put you down?
• Repeatedly call or show up to check on you?
• Make fun of you in a cruel way?
• Control all of the money?
• Scare or threaten you? “If you do that again, I’ll…..”
• Always blame you?
• Force you to touch or be touched when you don’t want to?
• Glare, yell, raise fists or break your things?
• Grab, shove, slap, or hit you?
• Control who you see or what you do?

Do you….?

• Always do what they want instead of what you want?
• Feel like you “walk on eggshells” to avoid anger?
• Feel scared to spend money?
• Stay because you fear what would happen if you left?
• Always feel like it is your fault?
• Believe if you just tried harder that everything would be okay?
• Believe you are nothing without them?

If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, you may be in an unhealthy relationship.

Resources:

• Student Health & Counseling Center
• Abby’s House
• Sable House
• Center for Hope & Safety