7 Signs That Your Relationship Could Be One-Sided

Signs of a One Sided Relationship

  • You’re frequently apologizing for things.
  • It feels effortful to engage your partner in a conversation (especially tough ones).
  • You hide things about your relationship with others—or you divulge too much about your relationship with others, instead of discussing issues with your partner directly.
  • You make excuses for their behavior.
  • You feel like you have to handle the relationship with kid gloves or need to walk on eggshells when you’re around them.
  • The predominant emotional state shared between you is negative.
  • You find yourself stymied a lot, never sure about what they’re feeling and as a result feeling even less sure about your own intuition and self-worth.

Is My Relationship One-Sided? | Psychology Today

How a One Sided Relationship Develops

One-sided relationships can develop when you and your partner have different ideas about what the relationship means.

Perhaps you have a goal of long-term commitment, while they can’t see past the next few months. Your view of the relationship leads you to intensify your efforts, while they haven’t reached the point where they feel able to express a similar commitment.

It’s also possible they learned to rely on their parents or partners to meet their needs in past relationships and now expect you to do the same. This certainly isn’t a healthy relationship behavior — it’s not your job (or anyone else’s) to take care of them.

However, this pattern can change through improved communication and dedicated effort.

One-Sided Relationship: 14 Signs and Tips for Balance (healthline.com)