Healthy Relationships

Healthy Relationships: Maintain flexibility Make people happier Follow fair fighting techniques Mean sharing and talking openly Are realistic Include self-care Lower stress levels

Tips For Creating and Maintaining a Healthy Relationship: Keep expectations realistic. Accept people as they are and do not try to change them. Talk with each other. Take time to genuinely be there and listen. Ask questions and share your thoughts. Be flexible. Change is natural so be open to accepting changes and growth. Take care of you. Be dependable. If you say you will do something, always follow through; this will make you more trustworthy.

Show your warmth. Be open to share your feelings. Fight Fair. Be prepared for occasional conflicts. Negotiate a time to discuss problems; don’t criticize; listen to what your partner has to say; stay with the topic at hand; apologize when you are wrong; ask for help when you need it; don’t hold a grudge. If it ends up being something major that you cannot resolve you can leave the relationship. Show your warmth. Be open to share your feelings. Keep your life balanced. Be sure to take time for activities you enjoy. Spend time with your friends, it’s important to maintain your independence. It’s a process. Be yourself! Adapted from: Kansas State University

Characteristics All Healthy Relationships Should Have: Mutual respect Honesty Trust Support Fairness/equality Separate identities Good communication

Is This Unhealthy? Ask yourself these questions about your relationship Does my boyfriend or girlfriend: - Get angry when I don’t drop everything for him or her? - Criticize the way I look or dress? - Say I’ll never be able to find anyone else who would date me? - Keep me from seeing friends or talking to any other guys or girls? - Want me to quit an activity that I love? - Try to force me to go further sexually than I want to? - Ever raise a hand when angry, like they are about to hit me?

If your partner ever attempts to control you, make you feel bad about yourself, isolate you from friends and family, and especially if they ever threaten to harm you, you need to get out of the relationship fast! Tell a trusted friend or family member about your situation and get assistance leaving immediately. This behavior is not acceptable and more than likely will not improve. This is not a healthy method of expressing love.

Ideas for Dates on a Budget in the Greenville Area : Bowling at Mendenhall Student Center Ice Skating Sporting events - students are often given free tickets Artistic performances by ECU School of Theater and Dance Stargazing at River Park North Pedal boats at River Park North

Free movies at Hendrix Local bands Rent dollar movies from Red Box Find ECU student discounts at local restaurants Visit one of Greenville’s many parks Visit the Emerge Gallery & Art Center or The Greenville Museum of Art