Abuse in a relationship is not rare. It’s very important to watch out for the signs of abuse in your relationship. The very first step you should take is to learn the signs that show you’re in an abusive relationship. Once you do, it’s time to get help.

A lot of victims do not realize they are abused in a relationship because their attackers may be very skilled in doing that. They convince their victims they aren’t doing anything bad and they blame everything on their partner. Some of the excuses they might use are the way their partner dresses, acts in public, or maybe a bad day at work, stress etc. Remember that these excuses vary from time to time.

But abuser will most often blame their victim for their behavior. Signs of abusive relationship are:
- Your partner hurting you either in private (when you’re all alone) or in public (where there are other people)
- Your partner calling you names such as “stupid” and other derogatory names
- Your partner forbids you wearing clothes you like, and forces you to wear what they want
- Your partner stalking you, checking your phone, emails, Facebook account etc.
- Your partner always blaming you for their bad mood and makes you feel like you’re the sole source of their problems
- Your partner smashes things when angry at you
- Your partner often using drugs and alcohol – and trying to get you to use with them
- Your partner doesn’t let you go out with your friends and forbids any socializing without them
- Your partner gets very jealous of other people in your life and makes you feel bad for having friends of opposite sex
- Your partner threatening hurt you, your family, your friends or pets if you don’t do what they want you to
- Your partner forcing you to have sex and/or forcing you to perform sexual acts you don’t want/enjoy
- Your partner threatening to kill you and themselves if you leave them

These are 12 signs of an abusive relationship. More often than not, in abusive relationships abusers are often males and victims are females but that’s starting to change. Best weapon an abuser has is taking their victim’s confidence. They will humiliate their victim, showing their dominance until she/he falls into their full possession.

There is always a cycle of violence in an abusive relationship. After being abusive, some abusers feel guilty about what they did, but for all the wrong reasons. They feel bad because they don’t want to get caught or face the consequences of their actions. If that’s the case, the abuser will make all kinds of excuses and try to blame the victim for the abuse. Victims often believe them and get stuck in an endless loop of abuse which can lead to more serious, life-threatening situations.

The abuser will do anything they can to control their victim. They might change for a while, and stop the abuse for a few days, weeks or even months. During that period, the victim gets hopeful and think abuser changed. This is a very dangerous situation to be put in, and victims need to understand that abusers do not change – they will do anything in their power to control their victims.

If you ever find yourself in an abusive relationship, know that there is hope. If you’re too afraid to end your relationship, talk to people you trust – your family and friends. Talk to the authorities, and remember to be strong. The abuser will never change and will continue to make your life a living hell until you do something to stop it. Talk to your friends and family, and call the police.

You used to be crazy in love, spending every free minute together and doing fun things. You used to kiss all the time, talk for hours. Every time you touched each other, the sparks would fly. Now… now things have changed. No more laughs, kisses and hugs, no more sparks. The attraction… is gone.

It hurt when your loved one said the attraction between you two is gone. Now you spend your time wondering what went wrong and if there’s anything you can do to make the sparks fly again. The answer is not simple, because every relationship is different and while there are things you can do to revive the attraction, be aware that they might not work.

Here are some things you can do that might help you find lost attraction:

1. Do Things You Know They Find Attractive
When you’re in a relationship with someone, one great thing you have going on is knowing what your significant other finds attractive. Do they go crazy when you wear certain clothes? Do they love the way you look them in the eye? Remember those little things and do them as often as you can. Sometimes, little details like that can make a world of differene in a relationship where attraction is an issue.

2. Feel Good In Your Skin
There’s nothing more attractive than being in a relationship with someone who loves and takes care of themselves and feels good in their own skin. Knowing you’re a great person with great qualities will help you feel good about yourself and make it possible for others to appreciate you and find you attractive.

3. Make Them Feel Special
Attraction can come from different places! Sometimes, all you need is a little gesture to make your significant other feel special. The next thing you know, sparks are back and flying everywhere. Cook them their favorite meal, plan a special outing – let them know you care and make them feel special.

4, Have Fun!
Having fun with yourself and being comfortable with who you are – a great way to show your loved one how attractive you are. Do things you enjoy, things that make you happy. Living your life to the fullest and having fun while living can make your favorite person feel attracted to you again.

5. Know When It’s Time To Let Go
While some people manage to find the lost attraction in their relationship, others don’t. Know when it’s time to let go – changing yourself for someone else is never a good idea and is not recommended. Sometimes it’s much better to let go and find somebody else, somebody who will care about you and find you attractive for the person you really are.

The old “dinner and a movie” is still a viable option for a date, but if you want your chosen companion to see you as more than ordinary, get creative. Activities for dating are only limited by your imagination, your financial situation and your date’s likes and dislikes.

1. Date On A Budget
Let’s face it – we’re not all made of money, but to impress your date and show them a good time is not a matter of how much you’re able to spend, it’s the thought that counts. Dinner and a movie may well be in the cards for a suitor on a budget – only dinner will be cooked at home and the movie can be viewed on your flat screen. Simple burgers on the grill will suffice, but a gourmet meal prepared together will be fun and bonding. Ask first if your date is a vegetarian.

2. Dates In The Nature
For the people who love outdoors, a date under a blue sky or the sparkling stars is just what Cupid ordered. Depending on where you live, there is almost always a national park, wilderness area or nature preserve available. Hiking trails and cavorting with nature can bring out the inner person, time away from the annoyance of civilization can create an Adam and Eve ambiance. A picnic lunch under the trees can be more romantic than a five-course meal. Watch out for bears, though.

3. Adventure Dates Are Fun!
The spirit of adventure still lies in most of us and it never hurts to get your date juices flowing. Adventure lies not too far from your doorstep and out of the ordinary activities are something that are long remembered. Take your date to the nearest airfield for flight over the city in a small plane. With an instructor, you both can have a flying lesson that will produce both laughs and thrills. For a mellower aerial experience, a hot air balloon ride is both relaxing and romantic. Don’t forget the airsick bags.

4. Dates Near The Ocean
If you live by the ocean, there’s an endless playground at your fingertips and multiple opportunities for courtship. Arrange with the local surf shop for surfing lessons for both you and your date. Within hours you’ll both be riding the waves and trying to hang ten. Dive shops around the world offer introductory dive lessons and after some rudimentary pool training the instructor will handhold you on an ocean dive to observe the undersea inhabitants. Has your date ever watched Jaws?

5. High-End Dates For Those With Deep Pockets
Dates where money is no object offer endless possibilities to be creative and quite literally offer the world as your playground. For the jet setters, a dinner date can take on a whole new meaning. If Italian cuisine is on the menu, take a Learjet flight to Milan for black cod in miso sauce at the Armani/ Nobu; or to Paris for suckling pig in cassia sauce. For the rich beach goers, a day at the Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro is a date that shows who you really are.

Remember, a date cannot create the chemistry between you two, but only the ingredients for a night to remember.

Dating someone who is a workaholic is not simple, but there are things you can do that will make your relationship much easier. Probably the most important advice anyone can give you about dating a workaholic is to have a lot of patience and understanding for your partner.

Being in a relationship or marriage with someone is to know all their needs, desires and the personality of your partner; making sure you fulfill their needs, that you’re there for them and that you offer support.

For most people, dating someone who is a workaholic can be frustrating. You can feel less worthy of their time, because it might seem that everything is more important than you. On the contrary – in most cases, that’s not the case with workaholic people. But, some people like to pretend to love work more than they really do, and work becomes their excuse for everything. In order to avoid those stressful situations, you need to figure out whether your partner is really a workaholic. Some signs they show are:

- He/she talks about work related topics all the time.
- He/she puts work before everything else, sometimes even you – work is their top priority.
- Most of the time you call/email/send a text message to your partner, he/she is at work, no matter what time is it.
- When your partner doesn’t have much friends, only friends from their work.
- When even big nights/dates (birthdays, anniversaries, special dinners etc.) are not a good enough reason to convince your lover not to be at work.
- When your partner answers the phone, sends emails and makes business calls during a date.

These are some of the signs that you would see from your partner if she/he is a workaholic. It can be really frustrating if your partner is always busy and always unavailable, but you need to try understand it. You have to learn to see that work the same way your partner does. Working and being productive can be a real passion and learning why is work so important for he/she will increase your own understanding of why your partner works so hard.

Talk to your partner and try to learn why work is so important to them. Ask questions, be interested. Some of the great questions you can ask are “Have you always worked so hard?”; “Has it always been your dream to be this successful?”; “What are the goals that you would love to accomplish?” etc. Your partner will love to discuss their passion with you, you will get to know them deeper and your bond will grow stronger.

If your partner works long hours, including nights and weekends, you also need to learn how to accept it. Last, but not the least important advice – work is a habit that was there long before you, and we all know how tough it is to get rid of the old habits.

Best cure for that is to talk with your relationship partner and explain them how you feel and what you think about their “workaholism”. Be gentle and understanding – yelling, accusations and screaming will lead to nowhere. You need to explain how you fully understand their passion for the job, but you need a balance in your relationship and want to spend more quality time with him/her. Explain how you would like things to be, but be realistic. Asking your lover to spend more time with you is OK, but asking your date to find another job is NOT!

Another great idea is to make a schedule where you can figure out what days are best for spending quality time together. That is a reasonable course of action and making little compromises in your relationship is important – it makes the relationship stronger, more healthy and lasting.

You have found a man who is absolutely perfect for you, but there’s one thing about him you’d like to change. He is SHY!

Guys that are shy can be cute and nice, but when you’re on a date with one, you have to know how to react. When you are on the first day with a shy guy, you have to try and make him feel comfortable around you. Sometimes, the worst thing that can happen is for you to talk all the time and never give him a chance to open his mouth. As you’re probably familiar with it, the first date with a shy guy can bring a lot of awkward silence between you two. You know that feeling where you both stop talking, and nobody knows what to say? Yes, awkward!
But there are things you can do to make him relax and comfortable. Instead of shutting him down from conversation and making him feel like an observer on a date, you have to find few conversation topics you know he’ll love to talk about. Making him relax and letting him choose topics will make him comfortable enough to bury the shyness.

If you like a shy man, don’t wait for him to make the first move. You can do it! He’ll probably like your assertiveness, and the attention will flatter him. Best way to get closer to a shy guy is to be friends with him. Spending time together will help you to get know him and vice versa. By doing this, his shyness might go away with little time, patience and effort.

But before shyness can completely go away, you will probably feel its presence for a longer period of time. Dating a shy guy requires a lot of patience and effort.

You have to talk to him. Ask him questions, tell him about your day and how you spent it. Talk about your interests and encourage him to talk about his interests, too. Talk about your family, or your pets, talk to him and encourage him to open up. You will have to do most of the talking at first, so be prepared for that. Finally, after two or three dates he can feel a little more comfortable, and he will start a conversation. When that comes you will know, your effort will pay off and your shy guy will start to come out of his shell.

Next thing you should know about shy guys is to know how to let him know you care about him. You’ll do that by remembering all important details of your past conversations. When he tells you something important about himself and his life, try to remember it. That includes the name of his parents, siblings, best friends, name of his pet, his favorite colour or his favorite sport. After that, he will know that you really do care about him, and that you listen to him when he talks. That’s very important.

Then talk about yourself. You can show him you trust him, telling him little details about you and your life. He will feel more comfortable and more connected to you. If he confides in you, keep it for yourself. Don’t tell his private thoughts or secrets to your best friend – you’re risking your relationship by doing that.
If you violate his trust even one time, he will probably never trust you again. So be careful, trust is one of the most important components of a successful relationship!

And one final tip for girls that are involved in relationships with shy guys – arrange dates with him. Don’t wait for him to ask you for a date. At the very first beginnings of your relationship, you can be the one that will call and arrange your next date. Sometimes, you might feel like you’re bugging him, but like we said before, patient is the key to success!

Remember, once your shy guy comes out of his shell, he can and will be more confident in your relationship. Be patient and all your effort will pay off!

Now, that’s two words every couple fear when they’re in the early stages of their relationship. First fight between partners is scary, mainly because you see each other in a completely new light, and fear that your relationship might not survive the “incident”. But what most young couples don’t realize is the fact that your first fight might make you even stronger and more in love with each other.

So how do you survive your first relationship fight? Just continue reading our article to find our more about first fights!

While it is true that some couples don’t survive their first fight, others emerge from the murky waters stronger and happier than ever. What is their secret? What do they do different than those couples who split?

1. They Always Fight Fair
Fighting fair is very, very important, especially in a first fight. By fair fighting, we mean calm, accusation-free, no violence fights that have the potential of eventually resolving the conflict. Violence of any kind, including screaming-until-your-head-is-blue and throwing things at each other is not healthy, but destructive and
has to be avoided. Calm discussions, where both parties equally participate, are healthy and constructive.

2. They Make Compromises
Couples that emerge stronger than before after their first fight work hard towards finding compromise that can work for them both. Compromises are a great way to resolve any fight, and are strongly encouraged by many relationship experts and professionals.

3. They Put Themselves in Their Partner’s Shoes
By putting yourself in your partner’s shoes, you will better understand their point of view and how they feel about the fight. Understanding better what they’re going through will help you choose smarter words when fighting, and will eventually help resolve the conflict.

4. They Know When To Take a Break
No matter how much you try, sometimes things can get out of control. By taking a little time off, be it 10 minutes or one whole hour, you will be able to think things through like a mature adult, and not an overly-sensitive little child. Taking a little break will give you both some time to cool down and will keep your blood from boiling.

5. They Don’t Use “You Always” and “You Never”
One major mistake many couples make, whether they’re in a long relationship or have just started dating, is starting their sentences with “You always” or “You Never”. By using these words, you can only start a defensive fight that might not end good. Couples who are in the early stages of their relationship are at a major risk, though – your first fight should not contain the absolutes.

6. They Fight About One Thing, And One Thing Only
When having your first fight, make sure you fight about one thing only – the thing that caused the fight. There’s no use of bringing something that had happened a while ago – it might make the other person feel more angry and less willing to compromise.

7. They See The Fight As Part Of Relationship, Not End
When you’re really committed to each other and to your relationship, you will learn that fighting is a part of it. All couples fight – even those in the happiest relationships sometimes deal with the feelings of anger, loneliness, sadness etc. What makes them different from all the other couples who split after the first fight is the fact that they’re smart enough to realize that fights will happen, but what matters most is their love and commitment to each other.

For women who choose to date younger men, it’s important to understand the dating scene you’re about to enter.

Be “In The Know”
In today’s society, which is filled with tweets, Facebook pages and text messaging, a cougar needs to be up to speed with her young male counterpart’s lifestyle and surroundings. She needs to be ready to be active, presentable and understanding. You’re dating a young man and have to feel young at heart!

Fit is Fabulous
Cougars who are on the lookout for younger men need to stay fit. They are in competition with not just other cougars, but younger women as well. If you have the grandmother or the mom look, then more than likely you will not do well in the younger scene. Give the look of a single woman – nice makeup, fashionable clothes. Present a shapely look. If you’re curvy, buy clothes that fit your form.
Work out. Don’t be afraid to go to the gym to work out the arms, abs, and legs. Cougars should want to present that young, active look that tells younger guys they still got it.

Observe the Scene
Take notes – look at his circle of friends and his friends’ girlfriends. What are they wearing? What’s their look? Does he find that look attractive? There’s nothing wrong with taking a few notes on what catches his eye. Don’t just try to guess at what he might like for you to wear. Get the details, save the time and money.

Prepare for Comments: Everyone Will NOT be on Your Side
There’s always the guy who has the mother that has his life planned out for him. Most of the time an older woman is not in that plan. If the relationship is nothing more than a fling, then there’s nothign to worry about. However, if it gets serious, a discussion about the future of the relationship is highly important. Does the mother care about age? What are your thoughts on the relationship? Is this where you wanted to be?

Make it clear with your younger lover on what you’re looking for out of the relationship before it gets serious. Once it gets serious and someone backs out, feelings will get hurt. Be in agreement on what you two are doing together so that others will
not try and figure that out for you.

Enter the Bedroom: Are you ready?
Young men nowadays are looking for a woman that can reach outside the missionary style lovemaking and can measure close to what they’re exposed to in the mainstream media shows and adult channels. One of the main complaints of guys when they’re dating women their age or older isn’t what they will do, it’s what they won’t do. Establish that early. What is he into and are you willing to do it? If not, have an answer ready to why you refuse. Don’t be afraid to wear lingerie. Find out his favorite colors. Does he like fishnet stockings or nylons? Be prepared to rock his world!

A woman meets a man. He’s charming, gorgeous, funny, freakishly good looking, with great career. But there’s one tiny, tiny little problem: he’s a decade (and some more!) older than her.

Guys your own age might seem immature. Don’t get me wrong – they have their own charm. Oh, the energy! Oh, the constant will to go clubbing! Oh, playing video games all night long! Add a little bit of boyish charm, a dash of spontaneity, a spoonful of excitement and you get a perfectly good man. But… but… but that’s not quite it.

You like your men with a sexy grey hair here and there, a pool of wisdom and life experience. There’s nothing wrong about that! However, these types of relationships still get stigmatized in public. Everyone seems to know your story and constant whispering about the two of you in public might put a strain on the relationship. There’s not much you can do about that, but fortunately, there are some things you can do to make sure your relationship with the handsome silver fox keeps blooming.

1. The Kid Role
In a relationship, both partners tend to take a role. Do not become the “kid” in your relationship. You need a lover, a lover, a companion – not a father. Don’t try and make him fill the position of your father or anybody else. The same goes for him; if you feel like he’s using you for his sexual fantasies, it’s time to get out.

2. Don’t Emphasize Age Difference
If you’re dating a guy who’s less than 6 years older than you, the age difference is not that big and it’s much easier to overcome. However, if your partner is 10+ years older, reminding him of the age difference will not do any good. Stay away from referencing TV shows or popular songs when it comes to your childhood. It might make him feel old… very old.

3. Be Prepared To Go Fast
Mature men tend to avoid love games. They’re over it – it’s childish! Be prepared for that, though. Being in a committed relationship with a guy who’s has salt’n'pepper hair, whose career is well established and who know what he wants, means being serious all the way and start thinking about the future. Of course, this is not true for all middle aged men – listen to his cues carefully and you’ll know what he wants.

4. Watch Out For Red Flags
Men tend to experiment a little bit in their middle years. That’s perfectly normal! But if you find out your man only dates girls that are barely legal, and ditches them as soon as they hit 25 – run, run, run! These men just want a hot, young woman to show off and feel young again, and are definitely not worth your time.

Dating older men has its advantages, but it has a bad side, too. It’s up to you to decide what you want and what you feel comfortable with. Be yourself, relax and enjoy your relationship!

Once a relationship goes past the honeymoon phase, it’s perfectly normal to encounter a few bumps here and there. However, if you feel like your relationship has come to a point where something has to be don in order to survive, you’re probably looking for signs that tell you your relationship is troubled. Watch out for these 7 signs that appear in almost every troubled relationship:

1. Lack of Communication
Lack of communication is a big tell-tale sign that something is wrong in your relationship. If you communicate with your partner often, but feel like you had been talking to a wall, it’s time to do something. Lack of communication in a relationship needs to be resolved, either by both parties discussing the problem together, or with the help of a professional.

2. Constant Fighting
Bickering is normal if it happens on rare occasions, just like fights. We’re different people, with different opinions, wishes and needs, and these differences are sometimes bound to make us bicker and fight. The problem comes if you start fighting constantly, over big and small things. If almost all your conversations end up with a fight and
never-ending drama, your relationship might be troubled. Try to figure out what makes you both so angry, and why you have to fight. There are always hidden reasons behind couple’s constant bickering and fighting.

3. Decreased Sex Drive
We know that life gets in the way – there are bills to pay, errands to tun, work problems to solve, kids to feed etc. But if you find yourself wanting to wash dishes rather than have sex with your partner – your relationship shows signs of serious trouble. Lack of intimacy can mask much deeper, harder to solve problems.

4. Seeking Comfort/Love/Understanding Outside Relationship
If you or your partner seek love, support, comfort or understanding from other people rather than each other, it might mean that relationship does not satisfy all your/their needs.
The person outside your relationship can be a family member, a close friend or someone you just met. Beware, because this is a serious relationship problem and, if not resolved right away, can lead to a break up.

5. Spending Less Time Together
Avoiding each other and spending less and less time together is a big problem. If you’d rather spend time alone or with your family and friends means they mean more to you than your partner does. Avoidance of each other, and desire to spend less time together is a big sign that says your relationship is in trouble.

7. Indifference Towards Each Other
Some people say that the worst feeling a man can feel is indifference. You just don’t care. You don’t care whether your partner is happy or sad, lonely, scared, excited… You don’t care whether they get a promotion at work; you don’t care whether you spend time together or not – and vice versa.
Indifference has a power to slowly poison and destroy your relationship – if this feeling is present in your relationship, we’re positive when we say that your relationship is in trouble.

Relationships are hard. They can make you happy and sad, all in one day. Relationships are a lot of work, too. Think about communication, support, a lifetime of compromises, just to name a few. Yes, I already said relationships are hard.

But, there are signs to watch out for; the signs that give your relationship an unhealthy color. Keep on reading to find out what those signs are and if they exist in your relationship.

1. Dishonesty
When you or your partner have a problem with telling the truth, you might want to consider speaking with a professional. Telling a white lie here or there is normal, but constant lying and omitting the truth might point to a much deeper problem that can be solved through therapy.

2. Unrealistic Expectations
If you have unrealistic expectations from yourself or your partner, it might be a sign of an unhealthy relationship. Negative body image, financial struggles (among others) cannot be solved by a “perfect” partner or a “perfect” relationship.

3. Lack Of Communication
Communication is very important when it comes to relationships. In unhealthy relationships, communication is often absent. Although we live in the 21st century, we still haven’t invented a toy that reads our partner’s mind. Until that happens, communication is the key to a long-lasting, happy and healthy relationship. Just talk, discuss and be open with each other.

4. Lack Of Trust
If you don’t trust each other, there really is no chance for a relationship to succeed. If you cannot or don’t want to trust your partner, you will end up hurting yourself and the significant other. The answer is to either try and work on it, or leave the relationship for good.

5. Lack Of Privacy
Reading text messages, emails and constantly checking partner’s social profiles is a major no-no. Each partner has to have personal space in a healthy relationship.

6. Lack Of Respect
You have to respect yourself and your partner. You should respect each other’s interests, careers, lifestyle choices etc. Accept each other and don’t ask questions.

7. Isolation
When in a relationship, partners sometimes ignore their family, friends and hobbies they had before they started dating. It’s easy to lose yourself in the ideal of a new and exciting love, but this scenario should be avoided. If you hang out only with your significant other, you have a problem. Go out, rekindle your friendships and enjoy your hobbies.

8. Neglect
If one partner feels neglected, that’s usually a tell-telling sign of an unhealthy relationship. Partners should be there for each other, giving support and cheering in times of need. Physical, emotional or financial neglect are a very serious sign of an unhealthy relationship. On the other hand, partner’s needs are always discussed and met in healthy relationships.

9. Emotional Abuse
Constant put-downs, negative remarks and hurtful comments are a sign of emotional and verbal abuse. Just like physical abuse, emotional abuse is very dangerous and damaging to a person, and is not present in a healthy relationship. If one partner feels like they’re never enough, it’s time to abandon the ship.

10. Constant Criticism
Criticism is only good if it’s constructive. If one partner hears constant criticism about their looks, their behavior, career choice or something else, they might feel like they’re not good enough which could potentially push the partner toward depression.

11. Control Issues
Both partners should share the control in the relationship. If one partner controls the other, the balance is disturbed. Maybe one partner cannot spend their time as they want, do things they like. If that’s the case, relationship is not healthy. Control is often a telling sign of unhealthy relations and is often ignored.

12. Sex Issues
Sex should be a physical way of saying “I Love You”. If it’s used as a weapon, as a manipulation, or even worse, forced, the relationship is unhealthy and should be ended.
Manipulating partner into sex, withholding sex as a punishment and rape are only a few examples of sexual abuse in unhealthy relationships. Partners should know each other’s sexual desires and should not use sex as a weapon.

13. Violence
If one partner is abusing the other (or if abuse happens equally), it’s time to end the relationship. Kicking, hitting, punching and pushing should not be tolerated. Partners involved in a healthy relationship do not physically harm each other. They talk, discuss and solve problems as adults, without screaming and violence.