“An interpersonal relationship is a strong, deep, or close association or acquaintance between two or more people that may range in duration from brief to enduring”
Wikipedia
Actions For Now
Steps (& Apps) to Reduce Symptoms
- “How to make Friends As An Adult in 4 Simple Steps”: Ideas for bonding with others when it’s not as simple as meeting in a classroom
- “10 Ways To Make You Closer To Your Family”: Advice on building common family values and a strong home cultural to bring your immediate relatives together
- “How To Break The Pattern of Love Addiction”: Sometimes your relationships are more about a compulsive need to be with someone than your connection with the other person. Here are ways to move past that.
- “36 Questions to Bring You Closer Together”: Build up any relationship by getting to know one another with these questions that have been shown to almost always make people feel more positive about one another
- 7 meditations on common relationship issues: Topics include kindness, acceptance, and communication among others
- “How Do I Set Boundaries With My Divorcing Parents?”: Feeling caught in the middle of your parents? Check out these tips.
- “How to Set Healthy Boundaries”: A graphic that makes it easy to just say “no” to obligations you can’t meet
- Guided meditation on relationships: This meditation examines your relationships with people and the world at large
- “How to Beat Feelings of Loneliness”: We all feel lonely from time to time; here are tips for getting out of an isolated funk
- “5 Ways to Enhance Relationships”: Simple advice for strengthening your bonds
- “How To Make Friends When You’re A Grown Up”: More advice on creating new relationships as an adult
- “Staying (or Becoming) Close with Our Siblings As We Age”: Tips on maintaining the sibling bond even after you’ve moved far away or gotten absorbed in busy lives
Apps
- Bumble BFF: A friend finder within the Bumble dating app
- Conversation Builder Teen: This app was designed to assist kids and teens with their communication. Initially free, it now costs $19.99
Romantic Relationships
- “9 Things You Should Do For A Happy Relationship”: This infographic was designed for romantic partners, but can also be applied to platonic relationships
- Emotionally Focused Therapy: Learn more about this evidence-based approach to couples treatment and enroll in an online workshop or find a nearby therapist (therapists, learn more about getting certified in EFT here)
- “Healing from the Aftermath of Infidelity”: Sex and relationship expert Dr. Tammy Nelson gives this free webinar on recovering from infidelity. You can also check out her blog on relationship issues like jealousy, consent, and porn.
- American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists: Find a therapist or physician who has received extensive training in human sexuality and healthy sexual behavior
- “Best Online Dating Sites of 2017”: Trying to meet someone new? Check out these sites.
- “How To Ask Someone Out”: This guide will help you present yourself kindly and confidently
- “Is My Relationship Healthy?”: This quiz can help you figure out if your relationship is right for you
- “12 Pre-planned Dating Nights”: Take the hassle out of date planning
- The National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call this number if you suspect your romantic relationship has become harmful
- “Ending a Marriage, With Grace and Respect”: Relationship expert Esther Perel offers guidance on handling your divorce like a respectful ritual rather than an explosive fight
- “Valentine’s Day for the Single Romantic”: An infographic that’ll show you how to enjoy your Valentine’s Day (or any day) while flying solo
- “50 Best (Fun) Cheap Date Ideas”: Bond with your significant other without breaking the bank
- “How to Get Over a Breakup, According to Psychology”: The best advice for allowing your heart (and mind) to move forward from a difficult breakup
Apps
- Mend: Supportive articles and audio recordings to help you through your breakup
Healthy Sexuality
- “Seven Ways To Become More Sexually Confident (Without Feeling Embarrassed)”: Follow these steps to become more assured in your sexual self
- Safer Sex Guide: This PDF offers information about STIs, sex and substance use, condom use, and more
- “What Does Sex Mean To You?”: Evaluate your attitudes towards sex with this piece from the Huffington Post
- Mojo: A questionnaire to help you and your partner determine common sexual interests
- Get Tested: The Center for Disease Control explains the importance of getting tested for STIs and STDs, and how you can do so.
- “Reclaiming Your Sexuality After Trauma, ft. Alina McClerklin, LICSW”: Steps for moving forward and reclaiming your sensual self after a traumatic incident
- “10 Minute Guided Meditation for Better Sex”: This meditation helps you engage with your sexuality to enhance your experience
- “Using the Sacral Chakra to Engage With Your Sexuality, ft. Tim Rogers, LMT”: How can chakra work help you connect with your sexual self?
Apps
- My Sex Doctor: Sex education resources
- MyPill Birth Control Reminder: Everyone needs a little help remembering to take their medication on time
- CDC STD Tx: STD education from the US Center for Disease Control
- iCondom: Locate nearest condom retailer
For Allies
Give the Best Support Possible
- “When Someone You Love Is Struggling”: An infographic on how to support loved ones who’re going through rough times
- “How to Be a Resource for a Friend In Need”: This article focuses on assisting friends in crisis (such as someone dealing with self-harm or suicidality)
- “10 Ways to Get and Give Emotional Support”: Psychology Today gives us the lowdown on creating mutually caring relationships
- “How You Can Support a Partner Who’s Struggling with their Mental Health”: Kristin Dart, LICSW, offers tips for those unsure how to best support their significant other during tough psychological times.
Romantic Relationships
- “5 Ways To Help a Friend Who’s In A Bad Relationship”: How to healthily and nonjudgmentally assist a friend who’s in a negative situation
- “4 Ways To Be A Good Friend During A Friend’s Breakup”: What to do (and not to do) for a friend struggling with a breakup
- “13 Ways to Be A Good Friend To Someone Getting A Divorce”: Even if you haven’t been through one yourself, you can lend a helping hand
- “How Do I Set Boundaries With My Divorcing Parents?”: Feeling caught in the middle of your parents? Check out these tips
Healthy Sexuality
- “Tips for Talking With Your Teen About Sex”: How to communicate openly and without shame
- “4 Ways To Help Your Friend Who’s Being Sex-Shamed”: Are people attacking your friend because of their sexual activity? Here’s how you can support them
- “What Can I Say To A Friend Who’s Having Unprotected Sex?”: You don’t want your friend to get hurt, so here’s a gentle way to discuss birth control with them
- “Teaching Sexual Health”: Resources for the classroom
- “How to Talk to Your Kids About Sex”: This podcast from NPR lifekit explores all the uncomfortable but necessary parts of this conversation
- “How To Help A Friend Who’s Having Painful Sex, By A Sexologist”: Your loved ones shouldn’t have to experience pain during intercourse. Here are some ideas you can share with them.
You’re Not Alone
Connect with Others, Hear their Stories & Access Playlists
Stories
- “22 Heartwarming Stories of True Friendship That Will Make You Call Your Bestie”: Remind yourself of how wonderful friendship can be
- “A Love Letter To My Brother”: One woman crafted this letter of appreciation for her sibling, even though she wasn’t all too enthusiastic when he first joined the family
- Estranged Stories: A forum for those coping with familial estrangement
- “An Open Letter To My Long-Distance Best Friend”: After moving to a far-away college, one individual penned this note to her BFF
- “An Open Letter To My BeautifuL Child Who Will Always Shine”: Advice on how to life happily and love oneself from a parent to their child
- “Friend Breakup Stories: 5 Women Share Their Tales of BFF Heartbreak”: If you’ve had to end a meaningful friendship, you’re not alone
- “How To Build A Family From Scratch”: A reflection on how families can be built intentionally, whether they’re biologically related or not
Romantic Relationships
- “3 Things That Finally Made Me Get Over My Fear of Falling In Love”: A writer discusses her fear of commitment, and how she eventually moved past it
- “Readers’ Stories of Being Single”: The BBC collected several tales about the joys and hardships of single life
- “How I Found My Soulmate, Part 1”: A blogger reflects on her past struggles and insecurities in relationships, and how she eventually began a relationship with her future husband
- “Why I Broke Up With Someone I Love”: One woman’s story of ending a relationship despite lingering feelings of affection
- “My Past Relationship Made Me Who I Am Today”: The writer reflects on an emotionally and physically abusive relationship
- “9 Guys Share The Moment They Knew She Was ‘The One’”: Several men describe how they realized their partner was someone they wanted to spend the rest of their life with
- “This Is Why I’m Choosing To Remain Single (Forever)”: A woman explains her unconventional choice
- “My Divorce Story”: Dr. Karen Finn shares how she got through a separation from her partner
- Break the Cycle: Educational programs on abusive relations targeting teens and parents
Healthy Sexuality
- “13 Women Share Their Most Empowering Sexual Experiences”: You can feel confident and strong during sex too
- “Casual Sex Made Me Feel Manipulated, Until I Learned To Ask For What I Want”: One woman describes her struggle with casual sex and her eventual erotic empowerment
- “How I Dealt With My Premature Ejaculation Problem”: This issue is more common than many will admit, but never fear! You can overcome it
- “On Sex, Aging, and Living Erotically”: 20-somethings aren’t the only people who have sex lives, despite what the media tells us!
- “Why I Love My Husband But Not Sex”: Not everyone loves to have sex, and that’s okay
- “Real Women Dish About Their First Times”: If your first time being sexually active was a little awkward, you’re not alone
Tune In
Check out our Spotify playlist for Friends, Family and other Loved Ones here
- “You’re My Best Friend,” Queen
- “Let’s Get Together,” The Go-Go’s
- “I’ll Stand By You,” The Pretenders
- “My Same,” Adele
- “We Are Family,” Sister Sledge
- “I’ll Be There,” The Jackson Five
- “We’re Going to be Friends,” The White Stripes
- “My and My Girls,” Fifth Harmony
- “Julia,” John Lennon
- “I’ll Be There For You,” The Rembrandts
- “Lean On Me,” Bill Withers
- “22,” Taylor Swift
- “My Best Friend,” Weezer
- “You’ve Got a Friend,” James Taylor
- “Umbrella,” Rihanna & Jay Z
- “Time After Time,” Cyndi Lauper
- “Here Today,” Paul McCartney
- “With a Little Help From My Friends,” The Beatles
- “One Call Away,” Charlie Puth
- “That’s What Friends are For,” Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, & Gladys Knight
- “For Good,” Kristen Chenoweth & Idinia Menzel
- “Don’t You Forget About Me,” Simple Minds
- “History,” One Direction
- “Stand By Me,” Ben E. King
- “Seasons of Love,” Rent
- “True Colors,” Cyndi Lauper
- “It’s Nice to Have a Friend,” Taylor Swift
Romantic Relationships
Check out our Spotify playlist for being In Love here!
- “L-O-V-E,” Nat King Cole
- “Your Song,” Elton John
- “We Found Love,” Rihanna & Calvin Harris
- “Maybe I’m Amazed,” Paul McCartney
- “Thinking Out Loud,” Ed Sheeran
- “Lay, Lady, Lay,” Bob Dylan
- “The Louvre,” Lorde
- “All of Me,” John Legend
- “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” Aerosmith
- “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” Elvis Presley
- “The Way I Am,” Ingrid Michaelson
- “Just the Way You Are,” Billy Joel
- “Yellow,” Coldplay
- “Mirror,” Justin Timberlake
- “It Takes Two,” Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston
- “Lover,” Taylor Swift
- “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” Stevie Wonder
- “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You),” James Taylor
- “The Only Exception,” Paramore
- “Let’s Stay Together,” Al Green
- “I Won’t Give Up,” Jason Mraz
- “Snowman,” Sia
- “New Year’s Day,” Taylor Swift
- “I’ve Had the Time of My Life,” Bill Medley, Jennifer Warnes
- “You Make My Dreams,” Hall & Oates
- “Love On Top,” Beyoncé
- “My Girl,” The Temptations
Breakups
Check out our Spotify playlist for Breakups here!
- “Since U Been Gone,” Kelly Clarkson
- “Go Your Own Way,” Fleetwood Mac
- “Freefalling,” Tom Petty
- “Rolling in the Deep,” Adele
- “Hallelujah,” Leonard Cohen
- “Don’t Hurt Yourself,” Beyoncé
- “Tangled Up In Blue,” Bob Dylan
- “Bad At Love,” Halsey
- “I Heard it Through the Grapevine,” Marvin Gaye
- “Better in Time,” Leona Lewis
- “You’re So Vain,” Carly Simon
- “I Will Survive,” Gloria Gaynor
- “Best Thing I Never Had,” Beyoncé
- “We are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” Taylor Swift
- “Tainted Love,” Soft Cell
- “You Give Love a Bad Name,” Bon Jovi
- “Yesterday,” The Beatles
- “Somebody That I Used to Know,” Gotye
- “Fighter,” Christina Aguilera
- “Burn,” Usher
- “It Ain’t Me, Babe,” Bob Dylan
- “I Knew You Were Trouble,” Taylor Swift
- “Miss Movin’ On,” Fifth Harmony
- “Cool,” Gwen Stefani
- “Wide Awake,” Katy Perry
- “Survivor,” Destiny’s Child
- “Tears Dry On Their Own,” Amy Winehouse
- “Send My Love (To Your New Lover),” Adele
- “in my head,” Ariana Grande
- “Inevitable,” Shakira
- “You Oughtta Know,” Alanis Morissette
- “New Rules,” Dua Lipa
- “Hard Feelings/Loveless,” Lorde
- “Truth Hurts,” Lizzo
- “Part of Me,” Katy Perry
- “thank u, next,” Ariana Grande
Master The Subject
Learn How it Works & The Science Behind It
- “Social Relationships and Health: A Flashpoint For Health Policy”: This study reviews the ways in which social support affects our physical and psychological health, alongside healthcare and policy implications
- “Rethinking Infidelity”: Therapist Esther Perel examines why people cheat and why affairs can be so traumatic in one of her many TED Talks.
- “Evolution of the Social Brain In Humans”: Why exactly did we evolve to need and appreciate social relationships?
- “The Evolution of Family and Marriages”: Learn how and why these social structures developed in this thorough PDF
- “10 Things to Know About Parent-Child Relationships”: How can your relationship affect both you and your child’s wellbeing, and vice versa?
- “How Do Toxic Relationships Hurt Your Health?”: Not all relationships are good for you—here’s how unhealthy ones can affect your wellbeing
- “Dear Sugars”: This podcast covers topics including the end of friendships, when it’s okay to meddle in a friend’s life, how to say “no” to others, and more
- “Healthy vs Unhealthy Friendships”: Learn the difference between a supportive and an unhealthy friendship
- “The Best Apology”: This graphic illustrates what meaningful apologies have in common
- “10 Rules for Fair Fighting”: A graphic detailing how you should and should not approach a conflict
- “The Road Map to Long-Distance Relationships”: Learn how to make your LTR thrive
- “Making Good Friends”: An article with tips on how to make positive connections
- “Mastering the Art of the Tough Conversation”: Get through difficult conversations with relative ease and unhurt feelings
- “Detoxing Your Social Environment”: How can you get rid of unhealthy relationships?
- “10 Rules of a Great Conversationalist”: Keep people coming back for more with these skills
- “4 Tips For Dealing With Difficult Family Members”: Your next family event doesn’t have to be painful
- Advice for Dealing With Loneliness: An article and infographic about the power of loneliness and how you can fight it
- “Why We Need Unconditional Love and Acceptance From Our Caregivers”: Did you know that acceptance during childhood affects our health and behaviors throughout life?
Romantic Relationships
- “Love Explained: The Science of Romance”: This section of Scientific American is dedicated to studies about relationships, sex, romance, and more. Articles include “Your Brain In Love” and “True Love: How To Find It.”
- “3 Simple Reminders That Being Single is More than Okay”: Remind yourself of all the great things about being single, and why it’s not a personal failure
- “The Best Marriage Advice”: An infographic on how you can build and maintain a successful marriage
- More Than Two: Information for those engaged in or interested in polyamorous relationships
- “Traits of a Healthy Relationship”: This infographic looks at the common traits of positive relationships
- Modern Love Podcast: Based on the popular New York Times column, Modern Love looks at all things rooted in love
- “Maintaining Intimacy In Long-Term Relationships”: How can you keep things close when you’re physically far apart?
- “8 Signs It’s Definitely Time To Break Up”: For those evaluating their current relationships
- “How To Love The Holidays When You’re Heartbroken”: The holidays can be an upsetting time for those going through a breakup or divorce, but there are ways you can reclaim your celebration
Healthy Sexuality
- “What Consent Looks Like”: Confused by the definition of consent? The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network is here to clear things up for you.
- “Sexual Self-Esteem: A Short Course”: Why it’s important to have confidence in your sexual self
- “Health Benefits of Sex”: Consensual sex is good for your physical health!
- Ted Talks on Sex: Listen to talks on envy, pregnancy, birth control, and more
Advocate
Connect to the Larger Movement
- National Council on Family Relationships: This nonprofit focuses on family research, education, and practice
- Relationships First: Empowering people to speak critically and connect across differences
- Hand in Hand Parenting: This group seeks to strengthen parent-child relationships by providing parents with the information they need to provide the best possible care
- Best Buddies International: This organization builds strong relationships while fighting the social, economic, and physical isolation of people with learning and developmental disabilities.
Romantic Relationships
- The Divorce Center: A nonprofit designed to support and empower people before, during, and after divorce
- Love Is Respect: A resource for teen relationships. This organization is particularly concerned with issues of dating violence, but its guidelines on healthy relationships and communication strategies are great resources for everyone.
Healthy Sexuality
- Planned Parenthood: Planned Parenthood is dedicated to advocating, educating, and providing healthcare for people across the globe.
- The Kinsey Institute: This organization seeks to promote a greater understanding of human sexuality and relationships
- Dating With Herpes: Relationship information and resources for those living with and/or partnered with someone who has herpes
- The Best HIV/AIDs Nonprofits of 2017: Find a comprehensive list at this link
*For resources regarding sexual identity, please see “Identity and Discrimination.“