It is a long-held saying in recovery communities: “Addicts don’t have relationships; they take hostages.” When you are in a relationship with someone who is suffering from addiction, you will inevitably find yourself trying to come to their rescue.

Is my partner good enough? Relationships can be complex, intertwining love, admiration, and sometimes uncertainty. A common question we may grapple with when feeling frustrated with our partner is, “Is my partner good enough?”

The myth of Narcissus and Echo is more than just an ancient tale—it serves as a powerful metaphor for toxic relationship dynamics. Narcissus, a hunter admired for his extraordinary beauty, was emotionally detached, rejecting all who loved him. Echo, a mountain nymph, suffered a cruel fate that left her voiceless—able only to repeat the words of others. Together, they embody the painful cycle of one-sided relationships, where one person seeks admiration while the other loses themselves in reflection.

Monsters is a Netflix biographical crime drama anthology that recently focused on the Menendez murders (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story). This series provided a lens into the psychological impact of familial abuse and provoked conversations about how these traumatic experiences can lead to extreme actions such as parricide.

There’s a running joke in the Peanuts comic strip of Lucy offering psychological advice to other members of the gang for a mere 5 cents a session. And if you are familiar with Lucy, you won’t be surprised to learn that her advice is futile at best, and at its worst, blunt and devoid of empathy; the equivalent to “get over it”.

Uncertainty is largely an inherent experience in the process of self-discovery, and so it is unsurprising that it is a theme woven throughout parts of the therapeutic process. Whether starting therapy for the first time or starting again with a different therapist, themes of uncertainty can be present from the very beginning.