What's a Dysfunctional Relationship?

No one likes to think of themselves as being in a dysfunctional relationship, but at one time or another, all of us have experienced these feelings.  We all do it wrong until we learn how to do it right.  Here a few things to think about.  Dysfunctional relationships make you feel bad about yourself. When you feel bad about yourself  -

 

1. You always feel resentful.  If you’re always resentful, you’re in a dysfunctional relationship.  Being resentful means you are doing things on a daily basis that you do not want to do.   And that makes you very angry.  Anger is very unattractive and is really sadness flipped unpside down.
2. You have a walking on eggs relationship.  You are always waiting for the other shoe to drop, always afraid of what the other person’s response might be.  You tip-toeing around waiting for the "right" time to talk (there never is a right time).
3. You feel more and more isolated. You stop talking to friends and family because you are ashamed and embarrassed to keep repeating your story. 
4. You doubt yourself – what you at one time knew to be true you now are unsure of.   As your self-esteem drops, you are less and less sure of yourself.
5. You have become “less” (than who you really are) to stay in it.  The whole reason to be in relationship with another person is that you can be more.  The feeling is “crank it up”, not tone it down.  If you are less than what you know (in your heart) you can be – you are in a dysfunctional relationship. (to be continued)