Quiz: Can you recognise a healthy relationship?

A healthy relationship should make you feel loved, respected, positive and comfortable about yourself. Feeling like you always have to put the other person’s needs above your own, or like you have to spend all of your spare time with them instead of with friends or family or on your own hobbies are signs of an unhealthy relationship

All of these are good things to do at the beginning of a relationship to make sure that everyone is one the same page and your relationship can flourish. Learn more about healthy habits when forming new relationships.

Being able to listen to your partner and really hear what they’re saying is really important in a relationship. Be sure to give them a chance to say everything they need to say before jumping in with your thoughts or trying to share your point of view, and ask them to do the same for you. Learn more about being a good listener

Being able to recognise when you are in the wrong and apologise is not only an important skill to have, it can also help to strengthen relationships. Apologising after an argument or disagreement allows you both to let go of whatever resentment or negative feelings you may be carrying and move on. Even if you didn’t mean to hurt someone, saying sorry can help to show that you understand that you did something wrong. Find out more about how to say ‘I’m sorry’

It’s completely normal to want time alone in a relationship, and taking time for yourself can be good for both you and your partner. If you would like some alone time, speak to your partner about it. Find out more about making time for yourself in a relationship

It’s normal to want to spend time with your partner and to enjoy being around them, but if you feel really sad or anxious any time you’re apart, even if it’s just for a short period of time, then you might be too dependent on them. Being able to spend time alone is an important part of any relationship.

While there can be times when we need to look at our behaviour and attitudes in a relationship, especially if these things are impacting our partner negatively, it’s never okay for your partner to expect you to change who you are in order to be with them. If you feel like you can’t be yourself around your partner, this is a sign of an unhealthy relationship

If your partner is always checking your phone and asking who you’ve been talking to or who you’ve been seeing, this is controlling behaviour. You have a right to your space and privacy, and your boundaries should be respected. Trust is an important part of a healthy relationship, and going through your messages or snooping through your things breaks this trust. Learn about more toxic behaviours in a relationship

It is not always obvious to the person experiencing abuse that they are in a toxic or abusive relationship. It can take time to see that the way their partner is treating them is wrong, and it might be something they don’t want to believe. Learn more about toxic behaviour and how to help a friend in a toxic relationship

It’s important that a relationship moves at a pace that is comfortable for everyone. You should never feel pressured into doing something you don’t want to do, and it’s okay to change your mind if you start something and then decide that you’re not ready. It’s important to have consent in a relationship and your partner should respect your boundaries.