Leaving an unhealthy or abusive relationship is often described as the hardest step, but for many people, what comes after can feel even more difficult.

Stalking is more than isolated incidents. It’s a pattern of repeated behavior that causes fear, intrusion, and loss of autonomy. Yet because many stalking behaviors begin subtly, people often dismiss them as persistence, affection, or normal relationship interest. Recognizing stalking early, especially when it’s not yet extreme, can save lives.

Breakups are emotional. People reach out, try to get closure, or struggle to let go, and that’s normal. But sometimes, what feels like a “messy breakup” is actually something more serious: a pattern of behavior that crosses into stalking.

Unhealthy relationships don’t always begin with obvious harm. More often, they start with subtle patterns that feel confusing, easy to dismiss, or hard to explain. Discover the top 10 red flags here.

Emotional abuse rarely begins with obvious harm. There isn’t always a moment that feels clearly wrong or alarming. More often, it starts subtly, through the tiniest behavioral shifts that are easy to dismiss, explain away, or misunderstand.

High school is often where people experience their first serious relationships. These connections can feel exciting, intense, confusing, and deeply important, especially when emotions are new and social pressure is high.

Technology plays a central role in modern relationships. Location sharing, shared passwords, and constant communication are often framed as signs of closeness or trust, but in some situations, these behaviors can quietly cross into control.

Jealousy is one of the most misunderstood emotions in relationships. It’s often framed as passion, devotion, or proof that someone cares deeply. Movies romanticize it. Social media jokes about it. Friends may even reassure one another that jealousy is “normal.”

Many people wonder why someone stays in a relationship that causes harm. From the outside, the answer may seem obvious, but from the inside, the reality is far more complex.

January marks National Stalking Awareness Month (NSAM) - a time dedicated to recognizing stalking for what it is: a serious, dangerous, and often misunderstood crime. Now in its 22nd year, NSAM is a national call to action to improve awareness, support victims, and hold offenders accountable - not just this month, but all year long.

Emotional abuse doesn’t always look the way people expect it to. It often develops slowly, quietly, and without clear boundaries, making it difficult to recognize, especially in the early stages of a relationship.

The days after the holidays can feel surprisingly quiet. The gatherings end, routines resume, and the emotional noise of December fades. For many people, this is when stress, loneliness, or unresolved feelings surface, especially for those who may have struggled quietly through the season in order to put on a brave face.

The holidays are often portrayed as a time of connection, joy, and closeness, but once they end, many people feel an emotional crash. Decorations come down, routines return, and the quiet of January settles in. For many people of all ages, this is when relationship stress becomes more noticeable, not less.

New Year’s Eve carries a strange kind of energy. There’s anticipation, reflection, pressure, and often a quiet undercurrent of uncertainty. As midnight approaches, many people feel the weight of expectation: to feel hopeful, motivated, certain, or renewed.

As the year comes to a close, there’s often an unspoken expectation to reflect, to tally accomplishments, measure growth, and imagine a cleaner, brighter version of ourselves waiting on the other side of midnight. But real reflection doesn’t always look neat. Sometimes it’s quiet. Sometimes it’s emotional. Sometimes it’s simply noticing what felt heavy and what didn’t.

The holidays can be beautiful, full of lights, traditions, and moments that bring people together. But they can also be complicated, emotional, or unexpectedly heavy. For many young adults, December arrives with mixed feelings: excitement layered with stress, joy blended with uncertainty, and the pressure to appear cheerful even when things feel hard.

For many people, the holidays are a time of warmth, joy, and togetherness. But for others — especially young adults navigating complex family dynamics or emotionally heavy spaces — going home doesn’t feel simple. The idea of returning to your childhood home, reconnecting with relatives, or stepping back into old patterns can stir up anxiety, tension, or uncertainty.

The holidays are supposed to feel warm and bright — twinkling lights, familiar traditions, shared meals, and people you love gathered under one roof. But for many young adults, the season also brings complicated emotions. Going home can mean stepping back into old family roles, navigating tense dynamics, dodging personal questions, or trying to meet expectations you never agreed to in the first place.

Social media touches nearly every part of modern relationships — how they start, how they’re displayed, how they’re compared, and sometimes how they unravel. For teenagers and young adults especially, platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and BeReal shape expectations about what love “should” look like. But behind the curated moments and trending sounds, harmful patterns can quietly take root.

There’s a common misconception that safety planning is just for people in crisis, but that isn’t the case. This process is a proactive tool that helps individuals protect themselves, stay prepared, and make intentional decisions when it matters most, regardless of their current circumstances. Whether someone is navigating a difficult relationship, concerned about control or monitoring, or simply wants to be ready for unexpected situations, a thoughtful safety plan increases confidence and security.