Healthy Relationships vs. Unhealthy Relationships << Types of Violence << Violence Against Women << womenshealth.gov

Healthy Relationships vs. Unhealthy Relationships

If you're a victim of abuse or violence at the hands of someone you know or love, or you are recovering from an assault by a stranger, you are not alone.

To get immediate help and support
call the National Domestic Violence Hotline
at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

or the National Sexual Assault Hotline
at 1-800-656-4673.
You can also visit the
National Sexual Assault Online Hotline.

Healthy Relationship

The signs of a healthy relationship include:

Loving and taking care of yourself

Respecting your partner's right to be himself or herself

Having a life outside the relationship, with your own friends and your own activities

Making decisions together, each partner compromising when necessary

Resolving conflicts through open and honest communication

Having more good times in the relationship than bad

Unhealthy Relationship

The signs of an unhealthy relationship include:

Focusing all your energy on loving and caring for your partner

Trying to change your partner to be what you want them to be

Dropping friends and family or activities you enjoy

One partner makes all the decisions

One partner yells, hits, or throws things at the other during arguments

Having more bad times in the relationship than good

Additional Resources

Publications

After the Storm: Tips for Adults — When feeling stressed out, it is easy to get frustrated and angry at people, especially those you are close to. However, these are healthy ways to relieve stress and not hurt those around you.

http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/pdf/tipsforadultshealthyrelationships.pdf

Choose Respect: Teaching Kids and Teens about Healthy Relationships — This site discusses ways in which to talk to your kids and teens about having healthy relationships.

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/ChooseRespect/

Are You Being Abused? (Copyright © American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) — This simple true-false quiz helps victims and those who care about them identify the signs of abuse. It encourages victims to seek assistance and gives phone numbers to call for help.

http://www.acog.org/from_home/departments/dept_notice.cfm?recno=17&bulletin=198

Factsheet: What to Do When Depression Enters a Relationship (Copyright © Mental Health America) — The pressure of being in a relationship can feel overwhelming to someone living with depression. This site discusses that depression is very treatable when the appropriate steps are available to combat the illness and your relationship can survive.

http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info/depression/what-to-do-when-depression-enters-a-relationship...

Marriage counseling: Working through relationship problems (Copyright © MFMER) — If your marriage is in trouble, marriage counseling can help you rebuild your relationship or decide that you'll both be better off if you split up. Either way, this resource discusses how marriage counseling can help you understand your relationship better and make well-thought-out decisions.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/marriage-counseling/MH00104/METHOD=print

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/mental/782.html

Social support: Tap this tool to reduce stress (Copyright © MFMER) — A strong social support network can be critical to help you through the stress of tough times, whether you've had a bad day at work or a year filled with loss or chronic illness. It's never too soon to cultivate these important relationships. This resource discusses how to build strong relationships and supportive networks.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/social-support/SR00033/METHOD=print

Organizations

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated January 15, 2009.