Many men are in bad relationships. First, their greatest emotional needs - respect, sex, attractive wife and domestic care (taking care of the home and cooking) are not met by their women.

In addition, their women are selfish and focus only on their personal needs. Their women may be critical, controlling and abusive. Some are dishonest and keep lying to cover up their indecent acts. Some show intolerance and are too busy to make time for their relationships. 

When a man’s emotional needs are not met, he loses his self-esteem and becomes a living dead. Some leave the relationship, some work hard to restore the relationship and some cope with the bad situation.

They choose to stay in bad relationships even when there are tell-tale signs that the relationship is gone stale.

About six years ago The Mirror published a story titled ‘Our women also beat us; some men openly confessed constant battering by their women. 

They keep quiet because if they speak out they would be ridiculed. Also, they appreciate abuse can be sexual, emotional, mental, social and physical. It becomes obvious that many men face abuse from their women

Environment
­The kind of family environment you grew up in has a profound effect on your marriage. If you grew up in a good marriage, chances are you will also have a good marriage. Unfortunately, some men grew up in bad marriages in which they were abused in many ways.

Their parents lived in constant hostility, criticism and had poor communication. 

They, therefore, grew up in pain and when they grow up, select partners who help to make up for their past hurts by creating the same difficult situation they grew up in. By loving such women they attempt to heal their past emotional pains.

Such men are, therefore, comfortable with women who create problems for them. Some call it a repetitive repulsive disorder. These men move from one bad relationship to another. 

Sadly, they believe it is their destiny to be in bad relationships because all their relationships are equally bad. In Akan, it is common for people to say ‘me ti nye aware mu’ to wit, I am unlucky in marriage. And they get into bad relationships and stay in it. 

Ego: Women are other-focused and have a great attachment to friends and relationships because they get great emotional fulfilment sharing their problems. As they talk about their problems they boost their energy and feel their problems lightened. They share their problems in marriage because they are sure their friends and colleagues will listen with empathy and give support.

On the other hand, men see talking about their problems in marriage as a sign of weakness. For example, if a man tells friends that his wife abuses him emotionally and socially, he will get no sympathy. In fact his friends will laugh at him and label him as weak. Many men are, therefore, too embarrassed to talk about their problems because nobody will believe them or show support. 

Shame, therefore, makes some men stay in bad relationships. It becomes easier when their women give them occasional good times like sex to make up for their bad behaviour.

Some men stay because they simply pity their women and children. They, therefore, deny they are in bad relationships even when there are tell-tale signs that the relationship is bad. Again men have great emotional fulfilment as they solve their problems and help their women. They see a bad relationship as a challenge to prove their efficiency, competence and power.

They will do all it takes to hold on to it because giving up is a sign of failure. A man fears failure because it threatens his self-esteem. He is reluctant to give up and has hopes to get over his personal problems someday.

Personal benefits: Some men will stay in bad relationships if their women will take care of their personal needs. They have comfortable homes, good cars and go on trips abroad courtesy of their ‘loaded’ women.

Some have joint investments with their partners and leaving could mean leaving everything they have worked for in their lives. They feel powerless and trapped in bad relationships. Again, for some men, a bad relationship is a good excuse to pursue their personal goals.

They have all the time to focus on their life goals and the more they succeed, the more they focus on their goals at the cost of their bad relationships. This happens because for men, a relationship is really not very important but success in business is.

Being in a good or bad relationship does not really count for some men as it does for women. For some men, what really counts is what you have and can do. 

Social status: Some men stay in bad relationships to enhance their social status. In Ghana, every adult is expected to marry. An adult who is single is assumed to be irresponsible and unworthy of respect. Many men, therefore, stay in bad relationships to meet family honour, social and religious expectations. Today, we see ‘big’ men in lifeless marriages holding on to their marriage to boost their social or political image.

Are you in a bad relationship?
Take a close look at your relationship. If it is bad you know it. Put your ego aside and do all it takes to restore it. Happily, studies show that in bad relationships, it takes one committed partner to turn it around because your woman will merely respond to what you do. Another good thing is that it is easy to please your lover because for a woman, the little things are the big things. Her greatest emotional needs are affection and companionship.

Show affection; send gifts often, no matter how small, because your woman will mark you equally for small and big gifts. Therefore, let your giving be regular without waiting for any special occasion because gifts are signs of love and goodwill and dispel hurts

Speak words of love and appreciation. Do acts of kindness and support. Make time for your love and share simple activities. Make her feel honoured treasured and special. Show appreciation for everything she does, no matter how big or small. If there is anything your woman wants, as far as possible, just do it because what may seem trivial to you may be a big deal to your woman.

Your relationship is your greatest asset and human investment. But it is hard work; If you work at it, it will work. Therefore, be your own magic formula and accept nothing less so that you can enjoy the amazing benefits of a relationship.

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The writer can be reached via email at Jydboakye01@gmail.com and on cell phone at 0208181861