MICHELLE BLYDE PSYCHOTHERAPIST

When does a relationship become unhealthy?

Is my relationship ‘toxic’, or am I overreacting?

You may feel confused after conversations that seemed straightforward. You replay arguments, wondering if you misunderstood or overreacted. You apologise even when you're unsure what you've done wrong. You find yourself walking on eggshells, monitoring someone else's mood, or feeling responsible for keeping the peace. You try hard to get your partner to understand you, but they never seem to hear you, nothing seems to make sense in your relationship anymore.

Over time, you lose confidence in your own judgement, leaving you wondering, ‘Is it me?’

All relationships have moments where conflict arises and someone gets hurt. This is both unavoidable and normal in healthy relationships. But when a pattern exists where one partner fails to take accountability, lacks curiosity or compassion, or most conversations shift to who is to blame, this can be a sign that all is not well.

• Do you find yourself constantly questioning or doubting yourself?

• Are you wondering why doesn’t my partner understand me?

• Are you often feeling confused, overwhelmed, or unable to make sense of whats happening?

• You feel like its your fault, your partner says that you’re the problem

• You don’t know what to expect, your partners responses are hard to anticipate

• Nothing seems to get resolved when you talk about the relationship

These experiences can occur in relationships where emotional or psychological control is present. The signs are often subtle, difficult to recognise, and can leave partners feeling confused, anxious, depressed, and constantly doubting themselves.

If you are recognising these patterns in a relationship, therapy can provide a space to slow down, explore what is happening, make sense of your experience, understand how it has affecting your sense of self, determine your needs, and find a path forward.