Surprise! These 8 "bad" moments in a relationship are totally normal

Photo: "Gossip Girl"

Some moments in your relationship don't indicate that everything is going wrong, they are signs that you are growing together, not that everything is falling apart.

The Normal Bar study, conducted by Chrisanna Northrup with two of America's most renowned sociologists, Dr. Pepper Schwartz and Dr. James White, asked nearly 100,000 people about their relationships and found that many things you might think of as "bad" are completely normal.

Here are 7 signs that show that your relationship is normal:

1. You wish your partner was more romantic

Many people think that women want more romance, while men want intimacy. The study shows that these two desires are not far apart, more romance often means more intimacy. Men who are part of the survey say that they also seek romance, but they feel it differently from the stereotypes. For them, romance is feeling appreciated and understood through small, everyday gestures.

2. You don't show much affection in public.

After a few years of dating, many couples limit their affection in public. Such a lack is not a sign that something is wrong, it's just that everyday life, work, children, and other responsibilities make this normal.

3. You have fantasies that are not related to your partner.

It's normal to think about someone else from time to time. About 53% of men and 38% of women admit to it. Fantasies don't indicate that you're unhappy with your partner, they're just a natural part of the mind.

4. Keep separate bank accounts

Even though you share many things together, finances often remain separate to maintain personal independence. About 60% of couples without children and 40% with children have separate accounts. Despite the separation, most maintain equal access to each other's investments and income.

5. You think your relationship is happier than your friends'.

About 46% of couples think they are happier than their friends. No matter how happy others are, this feeling says more about you and your perception of your relationship.

6. You don't fully trust your partner.

Even though you love your partner, only 53% of men and 39% of women fully trust them. Trust is a spectrum and is influenced by relationship style, previous experiences, and the individual's character.

7. You read your partner's emails.

Even when there are no major doubts, many of us do it. About 54% of women and 49% of men admitted to this. This is not always a sign of distrust, sometimes it is simply curiosity.

So, many of the moments you might consider “bad” are common and understandable. Love isn't perfect, but that doesn't mean it's not normal.