Knowing When to End a Relationship

Relationships can enrich our lives, but they can also cause damage. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or significant other, any relationship comes with its share of challenges. And more often than not, putting in the effort to resolve relational issues can and does result in a healthier bond. But there are those relationships that, no matter the amount of work and goodwill put into them, will never bring a return on your time or heart investment. These relationships are toxic, and they need to be ended in order for you to heal and move on.

3 Signs the Relationship Needs to End

There are More Negative Interactions Than Positive Ones Every relationship has its good interactions and its not-so-good ones. But there are those relationships that seem like every interaction is tense and filled with negative emotions. When communication becomes difficult or impossible, the relationship is beyond fixing. Vastly Different Needs In the beginning of a new friendship or romance, it’s easy to try and compromise with one another, making certain both person’s needs are being met. Over time, some friends or couples realize their needs are too different. For instance, in a romantic couple, someone may need more sex than the other. Someone may need to always be in control or have a need to lie. These kinds of clashing needs are a red flag for any relationship. A Blatant Lack of Respect Respect is essential in relationships. But sometimes there are those individuals that seem incapable of respecting the other person, their needs, their boundaries, their wishes, etc. These people tend to be on the narcissistic spectrum and are incapable of having empathy or respect for others’ needs. This is by no means an exhaustive list of signs, but these three are some of the most common and problematic signs.

Letting Go and Moving On

Once you know it is time to end the relationship, you may find that your head and heart waffle back and forth, wondering if you are making the right decision. This is why it’s always a good idea to have someone in your corner you can rely on to give you honest feedback, sound advice, and clarity. Sometimes you can find this champion in your network of friends and family, but other times it might be best to find a totally neutral third party. Someone you never have to wonder whether they are “just saying that” because they love and care about me. A therapist can help you navigate your intense emotions and make the best decision for your happiness and peace of mind. If you are currently struggling in a relationship and would like some help navigating it, please reach out to me. I would be more than happy to discuss how I may be able to help. Hi, I’m Sheria, a registered mental health counselor in West Palm Beach, Florida. I earned a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Palm Beach Atlantic University. I counsel individuals, couples, and families. I offer an individualized and integrative therapeutic approach with clients of all ages. Therapy is facilitated for individuals experiencing self-esteem issues, grief and loss, unresolved emotions, past traumatic experiences, addictions and substance use, mood disorders (anxiety and depression), spirituality, and relationship issues.       

RESOURCES:

• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/pieces-mind/201502/deciding-leave-relationship
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/rediscovering-love/201405/when-its-time-let-relationship-go
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fixing-families/201705/how-end-relationship-without-regrets