Your relationship can have a major impact on your mental health. However, knowing what signs to look out for can be difficult. Whether you’ve never been in an unhealthy relationship before or you’ve been in too many unhealthy relationships, understanding the difference between a red flag and a disagreement can be difficult. This is especially true if your relationship doesn’t have blatant unhealthy signs; for example, just because you’re not in an abusive relationship doesn’t mean you’re in a healthy one.
Many psychologists agree that individuals should keep an eye out for “green flags” and not just red flags. “Green flags” refer to verbal and nonverbal communication. If you’ve been struggling with your mental health, relationship, or both, it may be time to take a step back and assess your situation and encourage yourselves to question what’s happening in your life. Relationships are the most meaningful aspects of life and everyone should take this seriously.
Here are a few signs that your mental health may be negatively impacted by your relationship:
Their Issues Worry You Constantly
There’s a fine line between being supportive of your partner and being consumed by the issues that affect them personally. If you’re in a relationship with someone who struggles often, you could find yourself stressed constantly. This is because you’re more concerned about fixing their issues than taking care of your own well-being. It doesn’t matter what those issues are; they could be minute or major.
Not only do you focus less on your own well-being, but by putting all your attention on your partner’s issues, chances are your partner won’t be able to reciprocate. In these types of situations, you’ll likely end up supporting them endlessly while lacking the support you need in your life.
Couples Counseling Isn’t Working
There are many benefits of couples counseling, and it’s certainly a great first step towards addressing shifts in your mental health that may be directly related to your relationship. During couples counseling, you’ll be able to openly discuss the issues you’re having with a professional, neutral party. But if counseling isn’t helping, this could be a sign that you’re in a
relationship that isn’t good for your mental, physical, or spiritual health.
You Begin Changing Your Core Personality
When you don’t feel like you can be yourself around your partner, this is a big red flag. This can be confusing for individuals who view changes in themselves as compromises in the relationship. While compromises are certainly a component of a healthy relationship, certain compromises shouldn’t have to be made, and you should never compromise on your personality or core values.
If you tend to be outgoing, but find yourself quiet and timid in the presence of your partner, for example, this isn’t a good sign. In this case, this inability to express yourself fully and comfortability can gnaw away at your mental health. If you’ve changed over a long period of time, recognizing that change could be troublesome for you. Try reaching out to people who knew you closely before your relationship began and allow yourself to be vulnerable as you ask them their opinions. On the same token, be open to receiving opinions that may be tough to hear.
The Relationship Interferes With Other Areas of Your Life
Naturally, a romantic relationship will change your life. But generally speaking, it shouldn’t interfere with other areas in your life; it should contribute to them. If your relationship has caused major interference in your financial stability, relationship with friends or family, your work, etc., this could be a sign that it will also interfere with your mental health.
Take a step back and think about how your relationship has affected other areas of your life. Think about where you were before the relationship began and where you are now. If you don’t happen with the progress or have regressed, think about the reasons why, and trace those reasons to the original source. If the “end of the line” is often your partner, they may not be best for you.
