by Simplicity Lett

Created on: April 22, 2009

Whilst most people do not appreciate prying eyes and unsolicited advice in their relationship, there are only very rare times when it does not behoove you to put yourself between the proverbial rock and the hard place, for the mental, physical and emotional wellbeing of the friend, of course.

It has to be understood that you are not an impartial observer in your friends life and relationship. You care about them, feel for them, and travel up and down the roller coaster of love and emotion with them, and because of this unless they're also paying you as a therapist then you have every right in the world to offer your advice and in extreme cases enforce it.

Breaking it down into the basic types of unhealthy relationship, it becomes even more evident that your hands and heart are necessary.

Firstly, the physically unhealthy. Whether being on the giving or receiving end of physical abuse, it's quite obviously an unhealthy thing. One must always use make-up to cover bruises, and when a broken bone is involved it's quite hard to conceal. There's only so many times one can walk into the same door with their face, after all. Start gently, especially if your friend is the unhealthy one and imminent violence might be in your future. Offer advice on concealers, new excuses, and physical therapists in the immediate area. In extreme cases, your car and shovel can always be offered.

Of course, if your friend is the one being abused, then the game changes dramatically. The abusive partner of your friend deserves everything that is coming to them, and it's up to you, the caring friend, to do something about it. Start by kidnapping your friend; they're still in the relationship because they're scared, and they're not going to move out on their own. If you can hire a small band of ninja, so much the better, but it is vitally important to remove your friend from the situation. After this, you are now free to start small fires, rob the partner blind or even keep those ninja on your payroll for random shadowy thuggery.

Your friend will object to this, of course, as most people don't like being taken away from what feels familiar, but they will be so much better off in your basement that you and they can relax, knowing that you've taken care of things.

With an emotionally unhealthy relationship, again this can go both ways. Is your friend super obsessed with their partner? Can't seem to pry them apart with a crowbar? Talks about nothing but how wonderful andexciting and incredible and

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