26 Signs You're In A One-Sided Relationship And How To Fix It!

By Viroon on 08 Jun 2020

Senior Creative Editor

Passionate about fashion, beauty and lifestyle. Junk Food Junkie | When she’s not writing, you can find her at the pantry munching on snacks.

Do you feel like you’re doing all the work in the relationship? Do you only participate in activities that your partner wants to do? Does your partner take you for granted?

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Then it may be that you’re in a one-sided relationship.If you are unclear of the situation, here are some red flags to take note of.

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Sometimes you may know deep down that you are in a one-sided relationship, but admitting it to yourself and deciding what to do is the toughest part of it all. You may be in denial. But these signs are hard to ignore.

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#1 You initiate most communication.
#2 You feel like you're the one always initiating plans.
#3 You never feel secure in the relationship.
#4 You overthink and second-guess your partner’s true motives.
#5 You constantly feel you are lacking in some way.
#6 You feel empty after your interactions.
#7 You initiate deepening the relationship, to no avail.
#8 You don’t share your true feelings with your partner.
#9 You feel like you’re putting in the most effort.
#10 You feel you’ve already invested so much in the relationship that you have to make it work and can’t leave.
#11 They’d rather hang out with your friends than you.
#12 You are afraid of upsetting your partner or of causing conflict.
#13 You apologize when you shouldn’t have to.
#14 Your priorities are different.
#15 You do not feel truly known by your partner.
#16 You’re always making excuses for your partner.
#17 You settle for little bursts of connection even though you crave more intimacy from your partner.
#18 They show little interest in your life outside of them.
#19 You are constantly distracted by your relationship dynamics and so can’t focus on other parts of your life or be present in them.
#20 You enjoy moments with your partner, but after the interaction, you feel alone and lonely.
#21 They cancel plans a lot.
#22 You constantly have to make your plans fit into theirs.
#23 You are not authentic with your partner because you want to make sure he/she stays happy with you.
#24 You feel nervous about using words like relationship, boyfriend/girlfriend.
#25 There's little talk of the future from their end.
#26 You constantly worry the relationship is falling apart.

Can it be fixed?
Are the signs above familiar to you? If you mentally checked off most of the above signs, then you may very well be in an unbalanced relationship. Before walking away from the relationship, try the following methods before you call it quits.

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Firstly, how can you identify that there is a distinct imbalance in your relationship? You can’t simply jump to the conclusion that you’re in a one-sided relationship just because last week your partner hasn’t been that attentive. Look at the relationship as a whole. Has it always been this way? Were they far more attentive at the start, and everything changed after being together for years?

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#1 Recognise the problem is the first step towards solving it.
Sometimes when you are in the middle of a relationship, it can be hard to see clearly. So read the above signs, and perhaps even keep a tab of what happens in your relationship over a week to really see if it is a one-sided relationship.

#2 What do you really want in the relationship?
Before you can start to communicate effectively with your partner, you need to get a handle on how you really feel. Take some time to yourself to get all of your emotions and thoughts sorted out first.

#3 Communicate with your partner clearly.
Communication is key to every relationship, without getting angry, carefully explain to your partner about what is going on and how you feel. If your partner is committed to you, he or she will listen. If they are not interested in putting forth the effort, they will show little regard for your feelings.

#4 Find out if your partner is willing to change.
You won’t be able to fix a one-sided relationship by yourself. Your partner will have to be an active participant. If he or she is not willing, there isn’t much you can do. It’s best to walk away now.

There is no magic formula, and sometimes it cannot be fixed. If your partner really does love you, he or she will take action to correct the behaviours that are making you unhappy. If you do not see a positive change, it is time to value yourself more than you value your relationship.