Romantic and intimate relationships
Romantic and intimate relationships
There are many ways to live your love and intimate life, because every person is different and so every journey is unique. Find out what makes you feel good about your love and intimate life.
Am I normal if I'm not interested in having a romantic relationship?
It's normal to ask yourself these kinds of questions, especially when you see that some of your friends are in a romantic relationship. Maybe you're not interested in that kind of relationship, and that's okay!
Some people aren't interested in romantic and intimate relationships, either for a certain period of their life or forever. The important thing is to listen to yourself and respect your own rhythm.
Is it normal if I have feelings for or am attracted to someone of the same gender?
Experiencing feelings of attraction toward people of the same gender is normal and can occur in individuals of all sexual orientations, not just those who identify as homosexual or bisexual. .
Sexual orientation is a beautiful aspect of human diversity. While one does not choose their sexual orientation, each person has the right to choose the words that best suit them to speak — or not speak — about their desires, attractions, and identity.
Do you have questions about your sexual orientation? Is it causing you stress? Talk to someone you trust. You can also ask your questions anonymously to the organization AlterHéros.
2 Different forms of relationships
What forms can romantic or intimate relationships take?
Types of relationships vary according to commitment (staying together for the short or long term), intimacy (attachment, closeness, time spent together), and passion (physical attraction and sexual desire). Relationships can develop between people who identify themselves as the same gender, no gender, or as different genders. Everyone is different and so is every relationship: all romantic and intimate experiences are unique.
No matter what type of relationship you would like, it’s important that you tell your partners what you want. This will help you see if your expectations, needs and desires align. If you feel the need to or if your desires change, talk to your partner(s) again. Your well-being in your relationship is a priority!
Comment savoir si je suis vraiment en amour?
Il n’est pas toujours facile de savoir si on est en amour, mais certains indices peuvent t’aider à y voir plus clair. Demande-toi comment tu te sens dans ton cœur, dans ton corps et dans ta tête lorsque tu penses à cette personne ou que tu es en sa présence. Voici quelques signes qui peuvent t’indiquer que tu es peut-être en amour avec une personne :
CŒUR (émotions)
- Tu ressens une forte attirance envers elle (pour sa personnalité, son énergie et souvent envers son physique aussi)
- Tu ressens de la joie en sa présence
- Tu te sens plus nerveux·se ou gêné·e en sa présence
CORPS (sensations physiques et motricité)
- Tu ressens des papillons dans ton ventre
- Tu remarques que ton cœur bat plus vite
- Tu deviens plus maladroit·e
TÊTE (pensées)
- Tu penses souvent à cette personne
- Tu as envie de passer plus de temps avec elle
- Elle te manque quand tu n’es pas avec elle
Signs that there are romantic feelings don’t necessarily manifest the same way for everyone. For some, feelings and first romantic relationships will be lived very intensely. For others, the reactions and feelings experienced will be more subtle.
Whether or not you have romantic feelings will become clear with time , by getting to know the other person. It is also possible for a relationship to change over time, for example, a friend can become a romantic partner. If you realize that you have romantic feelings for someone, no matter their gender, ask yourself whether or not you want to tell them and how you’ll go about it.
Statements
Here are real statements taken from interviews conducted during the Trajectoires Amoureuses et Sexuelles des jeunes research project:
How do I communicate my feelings to the person I'm interested in?
Communicating your romantic feelings to someone isn't necessarily an easy thing to do, as it can lead to rejection if the feelings aren't shared .
Whether it’s spontaneous, planned, via text , or face-to-face , there’s no magic formula for expressing your emotions. Getting to know the other person before confessing your feelings could help you better identify your feelings and make you feel more comfortable communicating with them afterwards.
Tel-jeunes has put together a short video to help you: click here!!
It's important to be yourself and do what's right for you.
Que faire si la personne que j’aime n’a pas les mêmes sentiments?
Il arrive parfois que les sentiments amoureux ne soient pas réciproques . Ça peut être le cas si on développe des sentiments pour un·e ami·e, ou encore un·e partenaire sexuel·le ou une personne ayant une orientation sexuelle ou romantique différente de la nôtre. Il peut aussi arriver qu’on soit « en amour » avec une personne connue, par exemple un·e acteur·trice de ta série préférée ou un·e influenceur·se, mais où les sentiments réciproques sont impossibles .
Voici ce que tu peux faire si tes sentiments amoureux ne sont pas réciproques :
- Attendre que la personne développe un intérêt, mais ça ne veut pas dire que l’amour va se développer de son côté
- Faire des activités plaisantes pour te changer les idées
- En parler à tes ami·es
- Tourner la page et passer à autre chose
Lorsque les sentiments amoureux ne sont pas réciproques, il est normal que tu te sentes déçu·e, triste ou rejeté·e. Il est impossible de plaire à tout le monde mais cela ne veut pas dire que ça t’enlève de la valeur. Donne-toi le temps dont tu as besoin pour accepter que les sentiments de l’autre ne sont pas réciproques.
*The more often an answer was given, the larger it appears in the image
Comme tu peux voir, les relations positives peuvent inclure de nombreuses qualités, mais l’importance accordée à chacune d’elle peut varier. Tes priorités peuvent aussi évoluer au fil du temps et de tes expériences. Elles vont t’aider à préciser ce que tu veux et ce que tu ne veux pas dans tes relations.
En sachant ce qui est important pour toi, il est plus facile de le communiquer aux autres et de faire respecter tes besoins.
Activity: What are my 5 priorities in a relationship?
What is important to you to foster positive romantic and intimate relationships?
Developing a positive relationship doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone. Below, you’ll find a list of different qualities that can be used to describe positive relationships. Drag and drop your 5 priorities in the right-hand column to generate your personalized word cloud! Then share it with your friends or your partner.
Scroll through the list!
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My priorities in a relationship
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