Therapy for Dating & Relationships

A toxic relationship is one where you feel confused, drained, or small more often than you feel safe or supported. Even if there are good moments, something always feels off — like you’re walking on eggshells.

Signs You May Be in (or Recovering From) a Toxic Relationship:

• You feel anxious before seeing or hearing from them

• You’re constantly questioning if you’re “too sensitive”

• The relationship feels intense, dramatic, or emotionally exhausting

• You feel responsible for fixing their moods or problems

• You excuse behavior you’d never tolerate from someone else

• You feel worse about yourself the longer you stay

• You feel confused about what’s real or reasonable

• You’re afraid to bring things up because it might “blow up”

• The highs feel amazing — the lows feel devastating

• You know something isn’t right, but you keep hoping it’ll change

A one-sided relationship is when you’re doing most of the emotional work. You give, check in, initiate, and care — while the other person mostly receives.

Signs Your Relationships May Be One-Sided:

• You’re always the one reaching out or making plans

• You listen deeply to them, but they rarely ask about you

• You feel emotionally drained after interactions

• You justify their lack of effort or presence

• You feel guilty asking for more

• You show up for their hard moments but feel alone in yours

• You fear pulling back because the relationship might disappear

• You feel unappreciated but don’t want to seem “needy”

• You over-function so the relationship doesn’t fall apart

• You feel invisible unless you’re giving something

Emotionally unavailable men often seem interesting, successful, or intense — but struggle to show up emotionally. You may feel close sometimes, then suddenly distant, confused, or shut out.

Signs You’re Affected by Emotionally Unavailable Men:

• You feel like you’re chasing clarity or consistency

• He avoids emotional conversations or shuts down

• You’re always waiting for him to “open up”

• You analyze his words and actions constantly

• He pulls away when things get deeper

• You feel connected — but not secure

• You lower your needs to keep the peace

• You blame yourself for wanting more

• You feel anxious, unsure, or emotionally unsatisfied

• You’re attached to his potential, not his reality

Emotionally immature parents struggle to handle feelings; theirs or yours. Growing up, you may have learned to be the “easy,” “strong,” or “responsible” one instead of being fully supported.

Signs You Were Raised by Emotionally Immature Parents:

• You learned to suppress your emotions early

• You felt responsible for their moods or reactions

• You weren’t comforted when you were upset

• You learned to self-soothe instead of being soothed

• You feel guilty setting boundaries with them

• You were praised for being “mature for your age”

• You struggle asking for help as an adult

• You minimize your needs automatically

• You feel unseen or misunderstood by them

• You learned love meant earning approval

Breakups don’t just hurt, they change your life. Even if you chose to leave, or knew it wasn’t right, your body might still be holding on. That’s because losing someone you deeply attached to can activate grief, trauma responses, & a complete identity shake-up.

Signs You’re Struggling With Breakup or Relationship Loss:

• You feel like you lost a part of yourself when the relationship ended

• You go back and forth between missing them and feeling angry at them

• You replay conversations, moments, or mistakes on loop

• You question if you’ll ever feel that connected again

• You feel shame or regret, even if it wasn’t your fault

• You’re stalking their social media, hoping for signs they still care

• You feel physically sick (tight chest, no appetite, exhaustion)

• You attach to the potential of who they were, not the reality

• You isolate yourself but secretly wish they’d come back

• You’re blaming yourself and wondering what you “should have done differently”