Starting, maintaining and ending relationships can all be stressful. BEING SINGLE Although it is sometimes hard to recognize, there is a lot of social pressure to enter a relationship. Perhaps it's your mom asking why you aren't dating someone or a friend from high school who goes on and on about his/her boyfriend/girlfriend, then hesitates to ask about your romantic life because you're not dating anyone. Whether you have chosen to be single or you have found yourself in that situation, there are a lot of benefits from your current situation. You should take advantage of those that best meet your needs. Being single can allow you to... · date several people. · spend money on things that you like. · learn more about who you are. · spend as much time with your friends as you want. · flirt without worrying about the repercussions. · not have to "check in" with someone. Being single is a respectable and healthy choice. You can have more time to focus on a career, hobbies, travel, and hanging out, without feeling that you left someone out. EVALUATING A RELATIONSHIP Is your relationship stressing you out? These are characteristics of a healthy relationship. If these don’t describe your relationship, it may be a source of stress for you. In a healthy relationship you… · Have fun and grow together · Feel like you can be yourself · Maintain honesty, trust and good communication · Build friendship and respect · Handle conflict · Have accountability, partnership and dedication · Share healthy sexuality Conflict Resolution in a Relationship At the core of any successful relationship is the ability to communicate and resolve conflict. Included here are guidelines and exercises to help you resolve conflict. Ending a Relationship Tips on moving on, ending a relationship, starting a new relationship, and questions to ask if a relationship may be abusive. References and Resources Contact us with questions, comments, feedback and ideas. resources . alcohol & drugs . attitude . exercise . money . nutrition . relationships . relaxation . sleep . spirituality . time . tobacco