Movies and TV shows have always portrayed the teenage dating scene as something beautiful and flawless, but reality will tell you otherwise. A high school sweetheart could easily turn into a manipulative, heartbreaking disaster, potentially leaving a devastating impression on the victim. Of course, not all relationships turn out bad, but it’s important to be aware of the signs of a toxic relationship.
In high school, it’s common to see teenagers developing feelings for each other, but these feelings aren’t always healthy. It’s important to inform these teens of the differences between healthy and toxic relationships, to prevent accidents or regrettable decisions. High school students are young, vulnerable, and struggle with making good decisions for themselves. This can cause these young adults to develop trust issues, and become obsessive or controlling when it comes to relationships. Many believe it’s essential for parents and schools alike to teach their children awareness of toxicity in their relationships.
Signs of toxic relationships like manipulative behavior, guilt-tripping, hostility, unnecessary jealousy, or insufficient support can be overlooked by many high school students, as they may believe it’s “normal.” These more verbal hints of abuse can turn into physical altercations or even the unimaginable. Without these teens taking notice of the dangers these toxic relationships hold, their mental health could begin to take a downward spiral. The mental state of these teens can be so harmful they’ll go to drastic measures to feel at ease. To avoid detrimental effects, parents and school officials should hold speeches or lectures with teens to help them understand the difference between good and bad connections.
It’s crucial to know what a toxic relationship is or what it can cause, but it’s great to know how helpful a healthy one can be. One main factor of a healthy relationship is honesty. Without being truthful with each other, there can be many misunderstandings that could cause a rocky relationship. Another way to know if the relationship is healthy would be if both partners are making an effort. There needs to be a balance between the two sides, giving the relationship 100 percent of work.
Healthy relationships thrive when there is proper communication. The main factor in a healthy relationship is respecting one another. Respecting each other can go a long way towards creating an even stronger bond. Along with this, boundaries are a big step to any good relationship, like knowing how to make valuable time and space for each other. Sometimes, sitting down and talking is good, even for only a few minutes.
Relationships won’t always be easy and will never portray perfection. However, understanding their positives and negatives can accomplish much more than most expect. With a simple grasp of the concept of love, building a simple connection can be a breeze.
