How to Spot the Patterns of Dependency In a Relationship

There are healthy relationships and those that keep us up at night. No matter if you have a friend who is trying to take over your life, rule your day, or force their advice on you, or a partner who is possessive, it might be time to think clearly, and make a move to improve or break up the dependent relationship. It's not always easy to find the signs of dependency in a relationship, so here are some tips and advice.

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Take a Break
If you want to know whether or not you are depending on your partner too much, the best approach is to take a break. Go on a trip on your own and see how many times you are thinking about whether or not they are OK on their own, or about needing someone to reassure you that you are doing the right thing. In friendships, you might notice signs of dependency if you only have the same friends and cannot find interests on your own.
Look Out for Jealousy
Another sign of an unhealthy relationship is jealousy. If you keep on thinking about losing the other person, or they accuse you of cheating regularly, there is a chance that they are insecure and they will never let you go. This is why you will need to make it clear in the beginning of the relationship that you are an individual and not an extension of the other person.
Build Reciprocity
If there is one smart relationship advice people might want to hear before they start pursuing romantic interests is that every partnership is built on reciprocity. You will need to give and take the equal amount. Whether you are the person who takes care of the house and the other one arranges trips and holidays, you both need to feel respected and supported. You can check out this program to find more ways of connecting without becoming dependent on the other person.
Turn Off Your Phone
It is also a good idea to turn off your phone every now and then and stop being available to the other person 24 hours a day. If you start this in the beginning, you will make it clear that you need your space and you are willing to give them theirs. You can stop dependency and clingy behavior if you lay the rules as soon as possible.
Be Yourself ​

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A good relationship means that you are allowed to do what you enjoy without being blamed or criticized by the other person. This means that you have to develop a level of independence, so you can separate yourself from the other person. Just because you don’t have the exact same interests, you can still respect each other in a relationship.

It is not always easy to spot the signs of dependency in a relationship. Look out for the telltale signs and make sure you are both able to function without each other and respect each other’s values. ​​

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By Iconic Chica Mag Contributors