How do I know when to break up?

By The editorial team · Editor2 min read
How do I know when to break up?

Persistent disrespect, unsafe behaviour or mismatched core needs are strong reasons to leave.

You may need to break up if the relationship is regularly making you unhappy, you feel unsafe or disrespected, or you want fundamentally different things and neither of you can compromise.

Every couple has hard patches, so look at the overall pattern, not one bad week.

Strong reasons to leave

Abuse, repeated cheating or lying, contempt, control and ongoing refusal to change.

Questions to ask yourself

Have I tried to talk about this honestly? Has anything changed? Do I feel more like myself or less like myself in this relationship?

Take the next step carefully

Talk to a trusted friend or counsellor. If your safety is at risk, plan how to leave safely.

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