Trust is essential to a healthy, happy relationship—therefore, when trust is lost or broken, one’s relationship can suffer significantly. The good news is that trust can be restored, so long as both partners are willing to confront open wounds and work on rebuilding. If you’ve damaged your partner’s trust, start…
While Valentine’s Day is popularized as a romantic holiday, it can and should be celebrated by all. Rather than viewing it as a holiday for couples, we should look at it as an opportunity to feel and show our love for the people we value most. Additionally, we can celebrate…
Those who are in loving relationships often enjoy Valentine’s Day, while single individuals pity themselves for, well, being single. If you fall into the latter group, you can break this cycle of feeling sad and lonely on Valentine’s Day by learning to love your solitude and also working toward finding…
Wouldn’t it be nice to uncover the secret to a healthy, lasting love? Well, the truth is that there is no secret—healthy, lasting love takes time and effort instead. You should start by looking and working within: learn how to regulate your emotions, admit fault, set boundaries, and validate your…
Love is complicated, in and of itself; but it becomes even more complicated when you experience romantic feelings for more than one individual. While it might not be super common, it is possible to fall in love with two people at once and there are signs that this is happening to you….
Intimacy is an important part of any relationship: it plays a role in your romantic relationships as well as those with dear friends and family members. That said, welcoming intimacy and opening yourself to it isn’t always easy; in fact, it can be pretty difficult, especially when past experiences have…
If your loved one is engaging in troublesome behavior—perhaps they’re drinking a lot or turning into a workaholic—it’s normal to be wholly concerned. And while you might not be able to force them to make a change, you don’t have to sit idly by either; you can take a few…
By this point, Morgan’s used to being pushed around—literally and figuratively. Her boyfriend, Jon, who used to treat her with the utmost love and respect, became abusive about 2 years into their relationship. It started with words: demeaning, condescending, cruel words. Then it turned into a little nudge here and…
Statistics show that people who have been abused in the past are more likely to be abused in the future. This begs an important question: Do certain people attract abusers or abusive relationships? It’s important to note that abuse is never the victim’s fault. In fact, more often than not,…
When I think about violence, I shudder. Whether it’s two MMA fighters battling it out on TV, a kid lashing out at his mother, or an argument that has escalated into a physical altercation between partners. I find the latter case particularly disturbing. The first example is obviously an organized…
They say that friends are the family you choose. You don’t have to spend any ounce of your time with them, but you want to: You enjoy each other’s company; you support each other through the triumphs and the losses; you really get each other. Or at least that’s what…
Gaslighting is a form of manipulation and emotional abuse whereby the perpetrator leads one to question their reality, their logic, their intuition—everything they know to be true. This manipulative behavior is observed among friends, family, colleagues… and, of course, romantic couples. So, what does gaslighting look like in a relationship?…
