Most people would want to be in a relationship because they believe that this can greatly improve the quality of their lives. With a partner, you’ll basically have a best friend, supporter, and mentor all rolled into one person. You’ll have someone to lean on whenever life gets tough, and you’ll never be alone in facing any challenge that may come your way. Undeniably, being committed to someone is a good thing. However, when the relationship becomes unhealthy, that’s another story, especially if the relationship is doing more harm than good.

It’s typical for individuals to exert time and effort to stay in and keep the relationship. Some would even go out of their ways just to please their partners. It’s also because of this mindset that many people end up staying in an unhealthy relationship just to be with their partner – and more often than not, they don’t realize that they’re in one.

Here are some of the dangers of staying in an unhealthy relationship:

  1. You’re straining your other relationships. Being with your partner isn’t the only relationship you have in your life; you’re also a friend, a son or daughter, an employee, and a parent to your own child. When you stay in an unhealthy relationship for long, your other relationships will be adversely affected in a lot of ways. An unhealthy relationship will bring too much stress in your life that you won’t have the interest to improve or maintain other relationships. Additionally, people who truly care about you may also be frustrated about your decision of staying in an unhealthy relationship, which can drive them away from you.
  2. You fall into an addiction without you knowing.A lot of studies have claimed that being in an unhealthy relationship is similar to having an addiction – you’re caught up in a never-ending cycle of anxiety and relapse whenever you try to quit. Because of the love you have for your partner, you try your best to stay in the relationship despite your awareness of the negative consequences. However, at some point, you get fed up and leave the relationship only to either return to your partner after a few months or create the same damaging relationship with another person.
  3. You’ll suffer psychological harm. The length of your relationship can also be a big factor in your ability to end it. If you have been with your partner for several years, leaving may be unthinkable for you, despite how toxic the relationship is. Staying in an unhealthy relationship will not only create damage to your self-esteem, but you’ll also experience severe anxiety, fear, and other mental disturbances. If you get yourself accustomed to unhealthy relationships, you may accept such horrible situation as your only reality. You’ll engage yourself with unhealthy relationships for the rest of your life.

Prioritise Yourself

There’s nothing wrong if you pour out your 110% in a relationship. If you think the relationship and your partner are worth it, by all means, give it all you’ve got. But remember that you should never lose yourself when you’re in a relationship; you shouldn’t compromise your well-being for someone. Put yourself first all the time.