Author: Ashley Laderer

For better or for worse, everyone’s got a past, and let’s be real — not everyone’s past is rainbows and butterflies. Our pasts make us who we are and shape our lives, and when we’re in a relationship, we take on our partner’s baggage and interpret it in our own way.

Unless you’re the very first person someone’s dated (unlikely), you’re going to have to also deal with their past relationships, too — the good, the bad, and the ugly ones. What your partner has dealt with in their life has shaped who they are now, and it’s certainly possible that your partner’s past could impact your future together. Continue reading How Your Partner’s Past Might Impact Your Future

I had a friend in college who was always taking advantage of me — but I didn’t realize it at first. She would vent to me endlessly about her relationship problems, never letting me get a word in or really asking me about what was going on in my own life. She was my friend, and I wanted to be there for her! Whenever we’d hang out, the conversation revolve around her venting. Oh, and we always had to hang out at her place for her convenience, she’d never come to me.

This continued for months, and then went to another level. She asked me if I could run to the store to make a return for her because she “didn’t have time” to do it herself. One errand turned into multiple errands. I knew she was busy, but why was she making me run these errands for her? I felt like her intern, except I wasn’t getting anything out of it. Was I being too good of a friend? Was she taking advantage of my kindness? Once I realized what was going on, I broke off the friendship. Continue reading 7 Signs You’re Being Taken Advantage of in a Friendship

I remember being in a long distance relationship (LDR) a couple years ago that made me feel like I was losing my mind. My life and happiness revolved around when I was going to see my boyfriend next. It was almost like I forgot how to function as a single person…despite having been single basically my whole life.

Suddenly, my days just became me staring at my phone during work, waiting to get text messages from him. My nights became me waiting for a FaceTime call. I knew this wasn’t healthy, especially for someone like me who suffers from depression and anxiety Continue reading 7 Ways to Maintain Your Mental Health in a Long Distance Relationship

As life goes on and my previous relationships recede in the rearview, I still can’t stop thinking about my exes — and not about how much I hate them. It’s quite the opposite, actually. I’ll find myself remembering the good times we shared together, how amazing it felt to fall in love and be loved back, and how much I cared for them. I catch myself looking back on my partners as though they — and everything about our relationship — were perfect.

The reality of it, though, is that I’m just romanticizing my ex-partners and — conveniently — not thinking about all the negative and unhealthy aspects of those relationships. I’d rather think about the special romantic days than the days spent crying and arguing. Continue reading Why Do We Romanticize Our Ex-Partners?

In 2019, we’re more connected than ever. We’re constantly glued to our phones, addicted to texting and social media. We have a direct line of contact to pretty much anyone we want, anytime we want. This means that, for better or for worse, we have a direct line to contact our ex at our fingertips, 24/7. Let’s be real: Most of the time, texting your ex is not a good idea.

When you’re feeling lonely and constantly thinking about your ex, it’s really hard to resist sending a text. Trust me, I know! We’re creatures of habit, and when you’re so used to talking to someone you care about all the time, it’s hard to break the habit and cut contact. But by continuing to text your ex after your relationship is over, you’re just dragging out drama and prolonging the time it takes to truly get over someone. Continue reading Don’t Text Your Ex