You know you should break up with him. You know he’s not a good human. You know you’re lonely/unhappy/depressed with him. Why can’t you end it? You ask yourself this on a regular basis. Your friends and family hate the relationship. Sigh. It’s so hard.

If you know you should get out, but you can’t bring yourself to do it, here is some great advice on how to start:

Disclaimer #1: If your bad relationship is violent and/or dangerous in some other way, this advice doesn’t apply to you because you don’t have time to take baby steps. Please take what feels like a drastic step and do whatever is necessary to preserve your safety such as calling the police or contacting a battered women’s shelter.

Disclaimer #2: While I speak in a way that directs this towards females, this advice is for males too.

Helping teens grow and families improve connection,
Lauren Goodman, MS, MFT