Healthy relationships are designed to be a give and take, with both partners working together to provide support, encouragement, and compassion during times of challenge, sadness, or problems. In a healthy relationship, the couple flows between the role of being the supporter and being supported, providing a natural response to big and small issues in their life together.

In some cases, and often when one partner has addiction problems or when he or she is a narcissist, this give and take ends very quickly in the relationship. The addict or narcissist becomes the central figure, with the other partner relegated to providing all of the support. The relationship is no longer balanced, and it is also no longer emotionally or mentally healthy for the partner required to do all of the giving.

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