One-sided relationships are actually a really sad thing. The reason I find it so sad is because the relationship may not have always been one-sided.
What is a one-sided relationship?
In a relationship that has become one-sided, one partner is left investing time and energy into a relationship that the other partner is already emotionally detached from.
As defeating as it is, as will all heartbreak, you can look at it as a learning experience. Not all relationships last, and if you’ve experienced on like this, you’re now able to better identify what a one-sided relationship is and what it really entails.
Here is the list of ultimate signs you’re in a one-sided relationship, so hopefully you can save yourself the pain and drama if you find yourself in one:
1. You are always making the plans.
If it weren’t for you, there would never be any plans and your partner may or may not even notice. You will be the one to make plans and arrangements while your partner couldn’t be bothered to do anything of the like.
2. You’re always initiating conversations and communication.
You seem to be the one initiating text messages by saying “good morning” or asking how your partner’s day is while your partner does not do the same in return.
You tend to be the one to bring up important and pertinent issues in the relationship but your partner always keeps it at surface level.
3. You don’t feel comfortable telling your partner things.
You start to feel uncomfortable telling your partner anything. Your partner may or may not even be listening to you and you may not feel validated or supported.
4. You feel as if your partner couldn’t care less about what is going on in your life.
Your partner never asks you about things going on in your life whether it be family, work, or school. It is as if your life is non-existent.
5. You’re always there for your partner. Always.
If your partner comes to you with a problem or issue or needs an opinion, you are always there when you are able to be which is more often than not.
6. Your partner only responds to your text messages or phone calls sporadically.
It’s always on their time and when they feel like responding. It’s never important enough for your partner to respond right away or within a decent time frame even when you know they are always on their phone when you are together.
7. You are an obligation, not a priority.
Perhaps, you feel like you are a bother to your partner rather than someone your partner wants to hang out with whether it’s a night on the town or a night in watching your favorite shows.
What’s more, you feel like your partner doesn’t want to spend time with you and instead, you feel like you are on a schedule or time frame with your partner.
8. Your love or romantic gestures are rarely, if ever, reciprocated.
There is a lack of reciprocity between you and your partner. You do all of these small, little gestures to let your partner know you appreciate and care for them while rarely receiving so much as a thank you.
9. You lack a social life as a couple.
You rarely go out together. And you guys don’t hang out with friends together as dating or a couple. No one sees you out together.
10. You may feel more used than loved.
It feels like you are only passing time for your partner until something better comes along. You may feel you are being used for sexual reasons. As a result, you feel less love and more of a convenience to your partner.
11. Your partner is always canceling or rescheduling.
Rescheduling or canceling plans to go hang out with friends or maybe because your partner straight up doesn’t feel like doing anything that day or evening.
12. The relationship is more draining than it is energizing or refreshing.
Relationships take time and effort but that doesn’t mean it is supposed to be draining. You feel you are expending more time and energy into the relationship than your partner.
13. You start becoming resentful.
When you do not feel loved, supported, or cared for…you start to build resentment for your partner. It builds and builds until you are unable to hold it in any longer and you may possibly snap and with good reason.
14. Your relationship is mainly about what your partner wants.
It’s always about where your partner wants to eat or what your partner wants to listen to in the car ride without any consideration for you and what you may want to eat or listen to. It’s always what your partner is going through and experiencing rather than what you have been going through or how you feel.
How do you deal with one-sided relationships?
If you come to find out that you’re in a one-sided relationship, please know that it is not your fault. Apparently, your partner forgot to give you the memo on his emotional withdrawal from the relationship.
It happens far too often, and I believe one reason is because people get more and more selfish and greedy by the day.
One-sided relationships don’t ever work out because there’s only one person in the two-person relationship that is working at making it work. The other partner has not been emotionally involved in the relationship for some time or if ever while the other is putting forth time and energy into a purposeless relationship.
It’s not fair, and at the end of the day, one person is going to be hurt and in pain while the other moves on without remorse or feeling hurt.
It’s unfortunate that so many people in the world lack emotional maturity and awareness that they would rather lead someone on to believe one thing when they feel something totally different. This is one of those times where it really isn’t you, it’s your partner.
But it’s not the end of the world, and whether you decide to move on or try to work things out with your partner, you will make it through.
No one deserves to be in a one-sided relationship and feel deceived after finding out what the relationship actually is. Just be aware of the signs listed above and try not to be in denial about it.
It’s hard to face the truth and reality of a situation that involves someone you deeply care about but at the end of the day, you will be better off without that person if all you are to them is temporary.
Originally published on YourTango
Photo by Alex Bocharov on Unsplash
