Question

Hypothetical -- Your sister or brother is in an unhealthy relationship but doesn't seem to see the warning signs.

1a.How could you alert her/him to the potential dangers?

1b.How can toxic relationship affect one's health?

Answer 1

1a. When someone you know is in an unhealthy or dangerous relationship, you should warn them about the signs. You can tell them about the symptoms and signs which they can observe for, or which they might have seen but might not have given a second thought about. These symptoms are:

• Lying and being dishonest - Lying about the relationship, exaggerating, relationships that need to be hidden from others, causing drama, etc. are things that should not exist in a relationship.
• Being manipulative - Using guilt or other thing into pressuring someone to do something which they do not want to do is manipulation. It is no different than using someone for your means.
• Selfishness - If everything seems to center around the partner, then the relationship is definitely going in wrong direction. If the other person disregards his/her partner's feeling, and everything is always about his/her comfort then you better bolt out of the relationship.
• Being critical and disrespectful - If your partner is always negative, criticizing you and being disrespectful, you are in a bad relationship. Blame game, character assassinations, and not sticking to your promises is very bad.
• Being irresponsible - Relationship always involves two people, and this also means the responsibility becomes shared. If the spouse or partner does not own up to his/her responsibility and does not share it equally, then they are not responsible. It also includes not owning up for their mistakes, unable to keep a job, having others to support them, etc.
• Being possessive and controlling - Jealousy is good when it is not harmful to either party. Jealousy can be seen rearing its ugly head through controlling nature and possessiveness. In a controlling and possessive relationship, the other partner always has the ball in his/her court. They will keep tabs on you by making excuses, would not let you go somewhere alone or not let you spend time alone or with others, control what you eat, wear, stalk you, etc.
• Being aggressive - If your partner hits you, argues with you almost every time, verbally abuses you, threatens you, intimidates you, pushes you, grabs you, etc. then it is your red flag. Such relationships have a chance of ending up in abuse especially if the frequency of these symptoms are high in occurrence. Emotional and economic abuse should also be included in this section, as they are also a part of being aggressive.

1b. Every relationship has its flaws and weaknesses. No relationship is all about happiness and perfection. Relationships are all about adjusting and making it work and the efforts are by everyone involved in it. If it is the contrary, then the relationship is going to break anyway. How long can just one person keep the relationship boat afloat? But the dangers of a bad relationship is pretty serious on health. The symptoms can include:

• Feeling ill, weak immunity. You used to healthy always, now you find yourself being unhealthy.
• Stomach problems (Gastric problems, upset stomach, etc.).
• Turning to substance abuse, smoking, etc. due to stress
• Stress and/or anxiety
• Sleep quality is poor
• Appetite is always on the change (Binge eating or eating really less)
• Weigh issues
• Find yourself crying most of the time
• Depression
• Displeasure in doing most of the things

These symptoms, if they keep persisting, it can lead to fatal health problems like cardiac arrest, mental disorders, suicide and even death. So, better to be careful and avoid being in such a relationship for long than later pay for it.