Everyone always hears that date nights are important, especially for long term relationships. But have you ever thought why besides the obvious “spending quality time together”?

Emotional invalidation or dismissiveness occurs when someone belittles or disregards your emotions, leading to feelings of disconnection, isolation, and confusion about what to do next.

Most of us get into relationships looking for lasting love, connection, and romance. Healthy relationships take work and sometimes we come to the tough conclusion that a relationship is no longer sustainable yet we still struggle to take action and leave. Here are 9 reasons why people stay in unhealthy relationships: