Building (Heart) Healthy Relationships
Hello to our wonderful Tribeca AYAM community!
Have you seen the red hearts out yet? We’re not just talking about the ones for Valentine’s Day. February is American Heart Month, a time to focus on your heart and speak up for its health!
While most teens have physically healthy hearts, there is another side to heart health that we often find ourselves addressing with our patients: relationships and all the emotions that come with them. So this Heart Month, we’re focusing on how to foster healthy, fulfilling relationships that cause more smiles and less stress.
What Makes a Relationship Healthy?
“Healthy relationship” is a broad term because what makes a relationship thrive depends on the needs of the people in it. Healthy relationships don’t look the same for everyone since people have different needs. You might be surprised, though, to find that the key ingredients for a healthy and successful relationship are the same for all types of connections: friends, family, lovers, and even work colleagues!
Your specific needs around communication, affection, space, shared hobbies or values, and so on will change throughout life. So it goes that a relationship that works in your teens may be nothing like the relationship you want in your 20s or 30s.
But a few key signs do stand out in flourishing relationships:
Open Communication: Both partners should feel safe expressing their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment or ridicule.
Trust: Trust is fundamental in any healthy relationship. This involves trusting that the other person will be honest, faithful, and respectful.
Equality: Both partners have equal say in the relationship, from decision-making to distributing responsibilities.
Individuality: While a relationship involves a partnership, maintaining individual identities and pursuing personal interests is crucial for balance and growth.
Red Flags to Look Out For
Control: If one partner tries to control aspects like who the other person can talk to or what they can do, it’s a major red flag.
Manipulation: Manipulating emotions or situations to gain an upper hand is unhealthy and dangerous.
Isolation: Pulling away from family and friends to focus solely on the relationship can be a sign of an unhealthy dynamic.
Abuse: Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse is never acceptable. Seek help immediately if this is the case.
Healthy relationships greatly contribute to one’s emotional development and well-being. It’s important to educate both teens and young adults about the elements that make a relationship strong and meaningful.
Warm regards,
The Tribeca AYAM Team