How to keep your relationship healthy
Human relationships are a very important part of your life. These relationships can range from close and intimate to distant and difficult. Regardless of the type of relationship, different types of relationships help build a social support network that is essential to your physical and mental well-being. To better understand and discuss these relationships, it can help to learn more about the different types of relationships people can have.
What is relationship?
A relationship is any connection between two people, which can be positive or negative. You can have relationships with many people, including family and friends. The phrase “being in a relationship”, although often associated with homosexuality, can refer to a variety of associations that one person has with another. “Being in a relationship” does not always mean that there is intimacy, emotional connection and/or commitment. People engage in many types of relationships with unique characteristics.
Types of Basic Relationships
Relationships fall into one of several categories (although these can sometimes overlap):
- Family relationships
- Friend
- knowledge
- A romantic relationship
- Sex
- Professional relationships
- Situational relations (sometimes called “situations”)
These different types of relationships can vary greatly in terms of proximity, and there are different types of relationships within each of these basic types. Here are some of the different types of relationships you may encounter at some point in your life. Although there are many types of relationships, four main types are recognized as family relationships, romantic relationships, friendships, and friends.
A romantic relationship
A romantic relationship is characterized by feelings of love and affection for the other person. Although romantic love can vary, it usually includes feelings of love, intimacy, and personal commitment.
Experts have found many different ways to describe people’s emotions and express love. For example, psychologist suggests three main components of love: passion, intimacy, and decision/decision making.
Romantic love is a combination of passion and intimacy. Romantic relationships change over time. At the beginning of a relationship, people generally feel a strong sense of longing. During the first phase of love, the brain releases specific neurotransmitters (dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin) that make people feel euphoric and “in love.”
Over time, these feelings begin to diminish in intensity. As the relationship develops, people develop deeper levels of emotional connection and understanding. Relationships are often heated at first. Although the initial feelings of attraction weaken over time, the feelings of trust, emotional connection, and commitment become stronger.
Platonic Relationship
A platonic relationship is a type of friendship that involves a close, intimate connection without sex or love. These relationships are also known:
- Approaching
- depends
- Understanding
- Respect
- Management
- Support
- Honesty
- Welcome
Platonic relationships can take place in many contexts and can include friendships between a man and a woman or a man or a woman. You can start a platonic relationship with a classmate or colleague, or you can connect with someone in another setting, such as a restaurant, sports, or volunteer organization. – get involved.
This type of relationship can play an important role in the social support that is essential to your health and well-being. Research shows that platonic friendships can help reduce your risk of disease, reduce your risk of depression or anxiety, and boost your immune system.
Platonic relationships are concerned with intimacy and non-sexual friendship. Sometimes, a platonic relationship can change over time and turn into a romantic or sexual relationship.
Codependent Relationships
A codependent relationship is an unhealthy and dysfunctional relationship in which one partner is emotionally, physically, or mentally dependent on the other.
It is also common for both partners to be mutually dependent on each other. Both may alternate in the caregiving role, alternating between caregiver and care recipient.
Characteristics of a codependent relationship include:
- Act as the giver while the other person acts as the receiver
- Try not to get into an argument with the other person
- You feel like asking for permission to do something
- To save or save the other person from their actions
- Do something to make someone happy, even if it makes you uncomfortable
- Feeling like you don’t know who you are in the relationship
- Lift the other person up even if they haven’t done anything to earn your favor and admiration
However, not all codependent relationships are the same. They can vary in severity. Codependency can affect all types of relationships, including relationships between romantic partners, parents and children, friendships, other family members, and even co-workers. Interdependent relationships are worked together. While one partner may seem “needy”, the other may feel comfortable being needed. Someone who is more comfortable than important, for example, may avoid focusing on their own needs by choosing a partner who always looks out for them.
Casual relationships
Casual relationships usually involve romantic relationships that may include sex without the expectation of monogamy or commitment. However, experts suggest that the term is not clear and can mean different things to different people.
According to the authors of a study published in the Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, casual relationships can include situations such as:
- One night event
- Booty calls
- “sex” friends
- Friends with perks
Such relationships often continue to vary in terms of the frequency of contact, the type of contact, the amount of personal disclosure, the discussion of relationships, and the degree of friendship. The study found that those with more sexual experience were able to recognize the meaning of these signs more than those with less sexual experience.
Casual relationships are common among young people. As long as normal relationships are characterized by communication and trust, they can reap many positive sexual perks. They can satisfy the need for sex, intimacy, connection, and companionship without the emotional demands and commitment of a more serious relationship. Casual relationships are most common among young people, but people of any age can be involved in this type of relationship. Consistency and communication are key.
Open relationship
An open relationship is a type of non-cohabiting relationship in which one or more partners are sexually active or have relationships with other people. But people who agree to have sex with others are open to relationships, but may have certain conditions or weaknesses. An open relationship can happen in any type of romantic relationship, be it casual, romantic, or married.
There is often stigma surrounding non-monogamous relationships. But research shows that about 21% to 22% of adults will be involved in some type of relationship at some point in their lives.
The possibility of engaging in an open relationship also depends on gender and sexual orientation. Men reported having a higher number of open relationships than women; those who identify as gay, lesbian and bisexual compared to those who identify as heterosexual are more likely to report having been in an open relationship.
Such relationships can be beneficial including increased sexual freedom and pitfalls such as jealousy and emotional pain. Open relationships are more successful when couples establish personal, emotional and sexual boundaries and communicate their feelings and needs clearly to each other.
An open relationship is a type of mutual consent. Although there is an emotional core and often a physical connection between two people in a relationship, they agree to each other in close relationships with others outside of relationships.
A toxic relationship
A toxic relationship is a type of relationship where your emotional, physical, or spiritual well-being is harmed in some way. Such relationships often leave you feeling embarrassed, disappointed, misunderstood, or unsupported. Any type of relationship can be toxic, including friendships, family relationships, romantic relationships, or work relationships.
Characteristics of toxic relationships are:
- There is no support
- Blame it
- Competition
- Management skills
- No respect
- Dishonesty
- Gas fire
- Enmity
- Jealousy
- Violent behavior
- Bad communication
- Anxiety
Sometimes, everyone in the relationship plays a role in creating this poison. For example, you can become involved in toxicity if you are always aggressive, judgmental, insecure, and negative.
In other cases, the person in the relationship may behave in a way that creates toxic effects. This may be intentional, but in other cases people may not fully understand how they affect others. Because of their past experiences in relationships, usually in the home where they grew up, they may not know other ways to communicate. It doesn’t just cause dissatisfaction: toxic relationships can seriously damage your health. For example, according to a study, the stress caused by a bad relationship affects the health of the heart. Feelings of isolation and misunderstanding in relationships can also lead to loneliness, which has been shown to have negative effects on physical and mental health.
Toxic relationships can be stressful, hurtful and even abusive. If you have a toxic relationship with someone in your life, try to create boundaries to protect yourself. Talk to a mental health professional or consider ending the relationship if it’s bothering you.
