{"id":40281,"date":"2019-02-15T21:31:11","date_gmt":"2019-02-15T18:31:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeadvancer.com\/?p=40281"},"modified":"2019-02-15T21:31:11","modified_gmt":"2019-02-15T18:31:11","slug":"bad-relationships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeadvancer.com\/bad-relationships\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Do People Stay in Bad Relationships? 9 Common Reasons"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever wondered why people remain in bad relationships? There are reasons, and they\u2019re complicated.<\/p>\n

Relationships can be beautiful, offering happiness, friendship, and security. These unions can keep you young and feeling your best. On the other hand, there are relationships that are considered toxic.<\/p>\n

These relationships can do the opposite<\/strong> of their counterparts. So, why do people remain in these partnerships?<\/p>\n

Reasons to keep the fires burning<\/h2>\n

To be honest, most relationships that I\u2019ve encountered have been bad ones. They either involved substance abuse or infidelity, among other issues that cannot be overlooked so easily.<\/p>\n

I am guilty of remaining in these toxic relationships<\/a> for many reasons<\/strong>. I do remember my first reason was the simple fear of not being able to support myself. However, there are many other reasons, and like me, they sometimes stay in these unions for decades.<\/p>\n

Here are the reasons why people stay in bad relationships:<\/h3>\n

1. Low self-esteem<\/h4>\n

One of the most common reasons why people stay in toxic relationships is low self-esteem<\/strong>. Your self-image is what governs how you feel about yourself as a person, aside from anyone else in your life. If you have low self-worth, you will be afraid to stand up for yourself when you\u2019re unhappy in a relationship, hence, you may remain in that relationship and not speak up.<\/p>\n

You just don\u2019t feel comfortable with the idea that your differences could cause you to be alone again. Confident people understand that being alone is much better<\/a> than being in a bad relationship.<\/p>\n

2. Financial dependence<\/h4>\n

Here\u2019s the first reason why I stayed in a bad relationship \u2013 financial instability<\/strong>. When I was younger, I either didn\u2019t make enough money to live alone or I couldn\u2019t work for some reason. Either way, I depended a great deal, sometimes full-time, on my mate.<\/p>\n

He knew this as well, and he felt liberated to treat me however he wanted to. I was afraid to leave the relationship because I didn\u2019t think I could survive on my own. This is a basic reason why most women will not leave unhealthy situations<\/strong>\u2026 some men as well.<\/p>\n

3. Shame<\/h4>\n

For some people, leaving a bad relationship<\/a> means failure. If friends and family see the union as a positive thing, then you will be more prone to force happiness where there really is none.<\/p>\n

When you realize the relationship has run its course, you may feel obligated to keep pushing life<\/strong> into the fading union, just so others can see what a \u201cgreat<\/em>\u201d relationship you both have. Shame can be a powerful emotion that prevents you from moving forward\u2026.beware.<\/p>\n

4. Shared investments<\/h4>\n

If you and your mate share a home or car, then breaking up will be the last thing you will want to do. Breakups are messy when it comes to property and shared investments<\/strong>, especially if you\u2019re already married.<\/p>\n

You will try everything in your power to keep the relationship going, even though all the red flags are there<\/a> to prove otherwise. Keep in mind, no matter how many material objects you both own together, you will never be completely happy if you\u2019re in a bad relationship<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

5. Weighing options<\/h4>\n

Maybe your partner is lazy or inconsiderate, but yet, he buys nice gifts and is faithful. Is this why you will not end the relationship even though you cannot stand inconsiderate people and those who will not get up and do things for themselves, right? Sometimes people weigh their options<\/strong> in relationships because they\u2019ve been told that they cannot have a perfect mate.<\/p>\n

Most of the time when people start to shift their priorities in this manner, they have someone else whispering in their ear about how other people have it worse<\/strong>. Have you heard that statement before? The truth is, no matter how good you have it if you\u2019re not satisfied with the relationship, then to you, it\u2019s a bad relationship. Another word for this\u2026 \u201csettling<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

6. Manipulation<\/h4>\n

Then there are those who enter into relationships with narcissists<\/a> or other toxic individuals. When this happens, some people cannot leave due to manipulation<\/strong>. The toxic individual will convince you that everything going wrong in the relationship is your fault.<\/p>\n

So, when you start to notice their many shortcomings, you will feel guilty for thinking about leaving. You will start taking responsibility for your partner\u2019s negative actions. This is one of the worst reasons to remain in a bad relationship. It can also damage your mental health.<\/p>\n

7. Doing it for the kids<\/h4>\n

If you have children with someone you no longer have feelings for, and you’re staying, then you\u2019re staying for the kids. You can actually still love this person but clearly see the negative impact<\/strong> that they have on your life. Your love and the children you share will keep you firmly rooted in an unhealthy union<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I know children are important, but you should never ever stay only for the children. Yes, divorce and breakups hurt children that are involved, but staying in a bad relationship with the other parent shows them <\/strong>that it\u2019s alright to settle<\/strong> when you\u2019re unhappy.<\/p>\n

Children should be taught to make needed changes.<\/p>\n

8. Inability to see the truth<\/h4>\n

Another reason why someone might stay in bad relationships is that they may not understand<\/strong> what\u2019s going on. If you\u2019ve been raised in a dysfunctional household, then you might think what\u2019s happening in your marriage is normal.<\/p>\n

If your parents yelled at you all the time, and your mate yells at you, then you won\u2019t even see the bad in your relationship. Likewise, if you were abused, an abusive relationship<\/a> will seem normal\u2026.just like in your childhood home.<\/p>\n

9. Love<\/h4>\n

In rare circumstances, love will be the reason you stay<\/strong>. No matter how bad the relationship gets, you may still retain feelings for your partner. This is probably one of the hardest unions to break<\/a>, and the most painful. I hate to tell you this, but love is not enough.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not enough to degrade who you are and settle for less than what you deserve.<\/p>\n

Change is not bad<\/h3>\n

Ending a relationship, especially if it\u2019s one that\u2019s lasted a decade or more, will seem almost impossible<\/strong>. There will come a time, however, that you will understand that it\u2019s time to go. When you feel this pull, don\u2019t ignore it. It\u2019s best to start the process and move on in life.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t get me wrong – if you\u2019re in a relationship, I hope it works out. But if you are in a bad relationship, I hope you have the strength to do what needs to be done<\/strong>. Sending my love.<\/p>\n

References<\/strong>:<\/p>\n