Who you choose to love is your decision. No relationship is perfect of course, but picking your roses carefully can prevent you from being stuck by thorns. Think about it.

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

When things are going well between you and your partner, your relationship can stand any problems that may come your way. You are in a healthy relationship if you and your partner can:

• Communicate: You and your partner are open to listening and sharing each other’s feeling with one another.
• Trust: You have each other’s back no matter what. You don’t question each other’s whereabouts or stories when separated.
• Respect: You and your partner honor each other’s opinions, values, and space.
• Be yourselves: Being your true selves is what had you fall for each other in the first place.

Read more about Building Healthy Relationships here.

UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

Being in a relationship can be a beautiful thing! Some relationships may not be good for you. By paying attention to the signs you can dodge some of the hurt and pain you may come up against from being in this unhealthy relationship. Does your partner:

• Make you feel scared?
• Get possessive or jealous over you?
• Hit, push, or choke you?
• Make fun of you in front of others?
• Threaten to hurt you or themselves?
• Take things from you without asking?
• Keep you from spending time with others?
• Pressure you for sex when you don’t want it?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, this relationship may be unhealthy. Protect yourself. Don’t wait for things to get better and don’t put yourself through something that can hurt you in the long run. You can make a change today. Get help now.

Read more about Negative Relationships here.

Ask for help. Sometimes we may feel caught up in the drama, and don’t know where or who to go for help. Here’s how to ask for help.

GETTING HELP

• Loveisrespect.org. To chat with a trained peer advocate about your situation check out their website, call 1-866-331-9474, or text HELP to 22522 to get help now.
• SAFE stands for Sisters Acquiring Financial Empowerment. They offer services to survivors of domestic abuse to empower them and to build job skills.
• Local resources: Click the link for a list of domestic violence service in your area.