There are a plethora of theories on what a relationship should be like. Some people believe that a relationship should be as easy as pie, this could mean no arguments, no disagreements, and no mishaps. Some people run at the sheer sign of any of those things. While I would love to believe that a relationship consists of only great times… the reality of life (my life) won’t allow it.

From my personal experience there are times when you feel trapped, suffocated, and misunderstood. You want to kick, scream, and fight and a feeling of frustration could overtake you to a point of sheer rage.  My friends and I always talk about that stage in realationships after the infatuation stage is over. Thats what we call “the real shit” stage. The jail sentence.

You feel like you’re on lock down and everything you do is looked at under a microscope. You want to be an individual but you’re in a partnership. You could be required to text and call all day, you might be obligated to check in before hanging out with friends, and before you know it the life you lived when you were single is no more. You start to feel like you’re losing yourself to the “system”, so how do you cope?

You communicate and try your best to work things out. You stick it out through the times when you feel trapped and misunderstood. You let your partner know exactly what you want from them and you find a common ground on how to keep each other happy. However, remembering you’re still an individual is the most important part and once you know that, that life sentence to hell will soon be a life sentence to paradise. Believe me, I know.

-Shaun