Open Relationships Destroy Your Self Worth

I knew I would not make everyone happy when writing this post. But this sensitive topic deserves to be talked about and brought into the light. Because before someone gives their consent to an open relationship, they should be aware of the stuff they will probably go through.

Disclaimer: This is not a judgmental post about couples who are in open relationships.

Today's dating world is more complicated than the last 3 movies of M Night Shyamalan. Open relationships are becoming the new "trend". Open relationship simply means that the two partners are not exclusive and are openly allowed to have sexual/romantic relationships with other people. This concept is definitely tricky and NOT FOR EVERYONE. From possible jealousy and lying to emotional havoc, open relationships pose various challenges. But for me, the biggest challenge has to do with your self-worth.

Basically, when you announce (or sometimes do not) to your partner you want an open relationship, you're simply telling them that they are not enough for you. They are not physically, emotionally, sexually, mentally, and morally enough. This fear of "not being enough" and feeling incompetent leads us to a dark rabbit hole where depression eats us alive.

And thoughts like 

"maybe I am not worthy", 

"maybe he/she found someone better than me", 

"does he/she loves her/him more than me?", 

"has he/she been cheating on me all this while?", 

"Is our relationship real?"

creep into our minds and kill us from inside. Also, open relationships are never the answer to fix a relationship. If you find your partner cheating and accept an open relationship hoping they would come back to you, well you're wasting your time and investing in a relationship that's already dead. You'd better have a broken heart than constantly be cheated on and never feel enough for someone. 

I am not saying that people cannot do open relationships, it's just not for everyone. Because I do know some people who feel very at ease in open relationships and find strength in loving more than just 1 person. But never let yourself down by feeling you're not enough. If you feel your partner does not respect or love you and you're not comfortable with an open relationship, the best thing to do is to walk away, because, 

You are enough, always.

And if you've never experienced those thoughts or feelings, then maybe you're not that attached to your "partner" and need to stop saying you're in a serious relationship, it's just a friends with benefits situation, nothing more. The sooner you realize that, the better for your mental health.