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Healthy Relationships

Nothing is as personally fulfilling as happy, healthy relationships. Whether romantic or platonic, positive relationships can improve your sense of well-being and provide the support you need to get through the rigors and stresses of academic and professional life. But building and maintaining healthy relationships takes work, and unhealthy relationships can cause serious emotional health problems. It’s important to be aware of how your relationships with others affect your quality of life and to seek help if relationships become harmful.

Communication is Key

Friends and caring partners do the following:

• Share your likes and dislikes with the other person. Explore your preferences openly and together.
• Be empathetic. Try to understand the other person’s point of view.
• Actively listen. Pay attention to both verbal and non-verbal messages.
• Acknowledge the legitimacy of the other’s feelings (whether you agree with them or not).
• Accept that conflict is bound to happen but that it can lead to greater understanding and acceptance.

Support and Trust: Healthy Relationships

In a healthy relationship, partners:

• Treat each other with respect
• Feel secure and comfortable
• Are not violent with each other
• Are able to resolve conflicts constructively
• Trust and support one another
• Are interested in each other’s lives
• Encourage and support outside friendships
• Feel balanced and equal in their relationship

Protect Yourself from Unhealthy Relationships

Unhealthy relationships can take many forms, but the most important indicator of an unhealthy relationship is that it doesn’t make you feel good about yourself. It’s important to remember that abuse can take many forms and is not necessarily physical.

Get help if your friend or partner:

• Attempts to control or manipulate you
• Makes you feel bad about yourself
• Ridicules you or calls you names
• Is physically or verbally abusive to you
• Is overly possessive or jealous
• Doesn’t respect your sexual boundaries
• Sexually assaults or rapes you

How MIT Can Help

You may feel isolated and alone, but try to remember that there are many ways to get help. MIT can provide confidential support in an accepting environment. Contact any of these resources if you need help or advice:

• MIT Medical: 617-253-1311
• Center for Health Promotion & Wellness: 617-253-1316
• Campus Police: 100 (campus phone) or 617-253-1212
• Mental Health Service on-call: 617-253-2916
• Nightline (peer listening hotline): 617-253-8800