Taking care of yourself in a relationship
Remember, your mental and emotional health matters in any relationship. If a friendship or relationship makes you feel bad about yourself, constantly stressed, or unhappy, taking care of yourself first is important. Surround yourself with people who lift you up, make you feel good, and respect your boundaries.
Asking for help
If a relationship issue feels too big to handle on your own, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Whether it’s a trusted friend, a family member, or a counselor, talking about your struggles can provide a fresh perspective and make the situation feel less overwhelming.
If you feel physically unsafe in a relationship, visit https://www.thehotline.org/, call 1.800.799.SAFE (7233), or text "START" to 88788.
-
Anderson, M., & Jiang, J. (2018, November 28). Teens and their experiences on social media. Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2018/11/28/teens-and-their-experiences-on-social-media/
Bruce, E. S., Lunt, L., & McDonagh, J. E. (2017). Sleep in adolescents and young adults. Clinical Medicine, 17(5), 424–428. https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmedicine.17-5-424
Cregg, D. R., & Cheavens, J. S. (2022). Healing through helping: An experimental investigation of kindness, social activities, and reappraisal as well-being interventions. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 18(6), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2022.2154695
Curry, O. S., Rowland, L. A., Van Lissa, C. J., Zlotowitz, S., McAlaney, J., & Whitehouse, H. (2018). Happy to help? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of performing acts of kindness on the well-being of the actor. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 76(76), 320–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2018.02.014
Dickens, L. R. (2017). Using gratitude to promote positive change: A series of meta-analyses investigating the effectiveness of gratitude interventions. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 39(4), 193–208. https://doi.org/10.1080/01973533.2017.1323638
Gautam, S., Jain, A., Chaudhary, J., Gautam, M., Gaur, M., & Grover, S. (2024). Concept of mental health and mental well-being, its determinants and coping strategies. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 66(Suppl 2), S231–S244. https://doi.org/10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_707_23
Halperin, D. (2014). Environmental noise and sleep disturbances: A threat to health? Sleep Science, 7(4), 209–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.slsci.2014.11.003
Jo A, I., John M, M., & Nicola S, S. (2021). The Association between Gratitude and Depression: A Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Depression and Anxiety, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.23937/2643-4059/1710024
Ko, K., Margolis, S., Revord, J., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2019). Comparing the effects of performing and recalling acts of kindness. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 16(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2019.1663252
Medic, G., Wille, M., & Hemels, M. (2017). Short- and long-term health consequences of sleep disruption. Nature and Science of Sleep, 9(9), 151–161. https://doi.org/10.2147/nss.s134864
Melbourne, P. N. H. and D. S. D. D., University of. (2021, July 19). Mental health ≠ wellbeing. Pursuit. https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/mental-health-wellbeing
Wood, A. M., Joseph, S., Lloyd, J., & Atkins, S. (2009). Gratitude influences sleep through the mechanism of pre-sleep cognitions. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 66(1), 43–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2008.09.002