The Benefits of Relationships

Relationships are a huge part of our lives. They help to make up our social support network that is so important to both physical and mental health. There are a variety of different types of relationships that people can be involved in including intimate, familial, platonic and casual.

In healthy relationships, there is open communication and honesty between partners. They respect each other and the boundaries they set and don’t do things that make them feel uncomfortable. They value each other’s independence and don’t try to control or manipulate each other, but rather work together and share power equally. They encourage each other to be themselves, to continue seeing their friends and participating in activities they enjoy without them, and to pursue new interests and friendships.

One of the biggest benefits of being in a relationship is having someone who cares about you, and who will always have your back no matter what. There is no better feeling than knowing you’re loved and that your partner will be there for you when you need them, even if they don’t necessarily agree with everything you do.

Around eighteen months to three years into a relationship, the high of falling in love can start to wear off and it’s important to be able to discuss disagreements or face the fact that you may not be on the same page as your partner anymore. This process is called “defining the relationship” (DTR) and it’s a big part of being in a healthy relationship.