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What Does a Healthy Relationship Look Like?
Healthy VS Unhealthy
Relationships


Healthy relationships are built on mutual respect, trust, communication, and shared values. They involve feelings of safety and authenticity. So how do we know we’re in a healthy relationship versus an unhealthy relationship?

How Will I Know I’m in a Healthy Relationship?

Healthy

Open, honest, respectful
Built over time, consistent, and mutual
Values opinion, boundaries, and differences
Encouraging each other’s goals and emotional well-being
Calm discussions, compromise, owns mistakes and apologies when needed. Works to improve
Maintains individuality, friendships, and personal time
Feels safe to express feelings and be vulnerable
Heart

Unhealthy

Dismissive, hostile, silent treatment or manipulative
Jealousy, suspicion, checking phones, lying
Dismissive, controlling, belittling, or invalidating
Competes, criticizes, or shows indifference to struggle
Yelling, blaming, bringing up past or avoiding the issue, gaslighting or denies fault and refuses to take responsibility. Engages in physical harm
Possessiveness, isolation, or guilt-tripping for alone time
Fear of judgement, punishment, or walking on eggshells, physical or emotional abuse



What is Abuse?

Abuse is when someone uses their power or control to hurt another person — either physically, emotionally, or both. It can happen in families, friendships, dating relationships, or even at school.


What is Physical Abuse?

Physical abuse is when someone intentionally hurts your body.

How it Feels:

You might feel scared, unsafe, or nervous around that person. You may also try to hide bruises or injuries.

Physical Abuse Includes:
  • Hitting, slapping, punching
  • Kicking or shoving
  • Grabbing you in a rough way
  • Throwing things at you
  • Using objects or weapons to cause harm
What Can You Do?

If you think you or a friend might be experiencing abuse:
  • Talk to a trusted adult — like a parent, teacher, counselor, or school nurse.
  • Call or text a help line. There are people trained to help, and you don’t have to give your name.
  • Remember it’s never your fault. Abuse is always the abuser’s responsibility.
What is Emotional (or Verbal) Abuse?

When someone tries to control, embarrass, or hurt your feelings using words or actions.

How it Feels:

You might feel worthless, anxious, confused, or like you can never do anything right.

Emotional Abuse Includes:
  • Constantly putting you down or insulting you
  • Controlling who you talk to or where you go
  • Threatening you or people you care about
  • Gaslighting (making you doubt your own feelings or memories)
  • Ignoring you or giving the silent treatment as punishment
Signs You’re Being Abused:
  • You feel scared of someone, even if they don’t always hurt you
  • You’re constantly walking on eggshells around them
  • They apologize, but keep doing the same hurtful things
  • You feel isolated or like you can’t talk to others about it

Where to Get Help: