February marked Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM), — a time for reflection, education, and support as we come together to foster safe and respectful relationships.

So, you have had the meet-cute and the romance-filled honeymoon phase… how do you build a long-lasting healthy relationship?

Nearly everyone can relate to staying in a bad relationship longer than they should have or trying to make it work even though your gut told you something wasn’t right.

Early on, relationships are fun, exciting, even thrilling. In fact, attraction can cause the brain to release dopamine, increasing serotonin and producing Oxytocin, also known as “the love hormone.”

Your level of self-worth, self-esteem, and confidence are equally important factors to consider when entering into a relationship.

The early phase of dating is an opportunity to spot healthy and unhealthy behaviors in the potential relationship. Unhealthy behaviors can be easily overshadowed by the giddiness and excitement we may feel.