[smooth_remmy]

> This is basically a red flag for any relationship. If the only thing making or allowing a person to be happy in life is their partner then something is wrong. Mental health is no joke and not being able to enjoy life is usually a symptom of an underlying cause. Depression is probably the most common but anxiety disorders can be similarly hard.

There is a great amount of neuro-diversity in the human species. Some people are wired to be rugged individualists who could enjoy living by themselves in a cabin in the woods. Other people are wired to need to be around their family.

For some people, its not a choice, its how their brain is wired.

[ironman1478]

I think the issue is how extreme the statement "It’s arguable she’s the only reason I’m able to be happy" is. I think there is nothing necessarily wrong with that if you find a partner who is comfortable with providing this author's needs. In my mind though that statement signals a codependent relationship which are generally not seen to be a great thing. I'm not saying they are in a codependent relationship as an FYI, but it sounds like something people in that type of relationship would say. Like can the person not be happy at all if they were not in a relationship? Can they not find satisfaction in their job, hobbies, volunteer work, etc? yes it might not be fulfilling as being in a relationship, but to have a binary happy / not happy state based only on being in a relationship seems extreme. This is just going based on how the author worded it. Maybe a better way to have written their statement would be "less happy".