Healthy Relationships: Love in College

Has your significant other ever complained about you being too busy? “You always are too tired to do anything!” Being a college athlete is time consuming but managing your love life on top of that is an even bigger time commitment.  

February 14th is here and we can anticipate a number of different reactions people may feel this day. Two that come to mind are excitement and dread. Whether you’re dating long distance, seeing an athlete, or even a NARP (non-athletic regular person), athletes may find it difficult to balance their insane schedules while learning what it take to develop a new relationship, sustain one, or exit one gracefully.  

Dealing with a problematic relationship could negatively impact your sport and your academics. That’s why it’s important to know if your relationship is a healthy one. You should learn how to deal with a breakup and more important, know when you could potentially be in an abusive relationship. Because dating violence happens in 1 out of 3 college relationships, being able to identify when it’s unhealthy could be the difference between life and death. 

Any meaningful relationship should leave you feeling safe and secure in who you are. Ask yourself these questions: Does your partner make you feel more like you? Do they allow you to be yourself and let you know how much you are appreciated? In this article Relationships 101: How to Have Strong College Relationships, you’ll find some healthy signs of relationships, uncover red flags in relationships, and learn techniques to handle long distance relationships.  

If you or someone you know are in a dangerous relationship, reach out to the resources at LSU, including connecting with LSU Sport Psych and Counseling.

For support and guidance throughout your college career as an LSU student-athlete, reach out to your resources. It’s often the hardest step, but the most rewarding.

Sport Performance & Counseling: GeauxBeWell@lsu.edu