If Your Partner Ever Does These 11 Things Behind Closed Doors, You Have A Secure Relationship

While it's nice to greet each other after a long day, or chat for a bit over dinner, it's a sign of a truly secure relationship if your partner creates space for you to do your own thing every now and again.

This might mean leaving you alone to read in a separate room for an hour, or taking a step back while you pursue hobbies or friendships. "In a secure relationship, you and your partner don’t feel the need to peer over each other’s shoulders," Parisi says. Instead, you both acknowledge the importance of alone time, and make sure it happens.

All couples are different when it comes to how open they want to be about their bodily functions, bathroom habits, and so on. But if your partner does these things without shame, there's a good chance they feel all sorts of secure.

As Parisi says, "If you’re both secure in the relationship, then you can move past pretending that you don’t fart. Same with pooping, although I don’t think your partner needs the visual, it doesn’t have to be a state secret that pooping happens." If you both want to talk about it, that's great.

In a similar vein, Parisi says a very secure partner will, with time, likely let their hair down — both literally and figuratively. Think along the lines of walking around with zit cream, while wearing thread-bare pajamas, after having not showered for days. That's love.

While you don't want to be fighting in a toxic way, or bickering 24/7, it's a great sign if you two can have the occasional healthy argument behind closed doors. And even better if your partner is open about their feelings during it.

"It isn’t possible for two people to want and need the same thing all the time, or to have the exact same opinion on every single thing," Parisi says. "Arguments shouldn’t be a constant [...] but yes, there should be some arguing." Same goes for healthy debates, too, as it shows you're both secure enough to disagree.

It can be tough to turn a loving partner down, especially if you live together and/or are used to having sex regularly. But a secure partner will be able to talk about their needs, including when they do and don't want to have sex.

As Parisi says, "It’s not a fair expectation that your partner be ready to go every single second of the day, and sometimes one of you is in the mood, and one of you is not. It’s OK to communicate [to each other] that today is not a good day/time."

As mentioned above, it's a sign of security if your partner leaves you alone to do your own thing, and even better if they seek alone time, too — especially if they have no problem asking for it.

"Just because you love each other doesn’t mean you need to be in each others’ faces all the time," Parisi says. "It’s OK to have different favorite television shows, to need time alone, to want to read or work out or chat on the phone without your partner. A secure relationship can withstand partners having some alone time to do whatever their thing is."

Secure relationships also have agreed upon boundaries that both partners respect, which may include a need for alone time every now and again.

If you two are walking on eggshells around each other, that's a surefire sign you need to work on building trust and security within your relationship, since obviously things are being left unsaid.

But if you already do trust each other, you'll likely notice that your partner doesn't have any problem being honest. "When you’re not avoiding arguments, and you feel like you will still be accepted even if your partner doesn’t agree with you, then it feels less scary to be honest with them," Parisi says.

Let's say you're watching a TV show and your partner blurts out that they find the main star super attractive. While it might not be the most fun thing to hear, comments like these will take a funnier, more joking tone if you have a secure, trusting relationship.

"Just because you’re in a relationship together doesn’t mean you don’t have eyes," Parisi says. "You can still find another person attractive." Saying it out loud shows that it's not threatening, but simply an observation.

Whether they're venting about work, worrying about a friend, or sharing a family story, a secure partner will likely feel safe confiding in you.

"When your partner talks about hopes and fears regarding work, or troubles or good times with friends and relatives, it’s a sign of trust, which means your partner feels secure," Tina B. Tessina, PhD, psychotherapist and author of Dr. Romance's Guide to Finding Love Today, tells Bustle.

It's great if your partner has a circle of people they turn to for advice and fresh perspectives. But even better if they include you as one of the first people they call. "If your partner values your input, and asks for it, it’s a sign that you are trusted and respected," Dr. Tessina says. "Both good signs for security."

As Dr. Tessina says, "Shared humor is a sign of affection and good feelings in a relationship," so take it as a great sign if you two are constantly cracking each other up, as it means you're both at ease within the relationship.

These are all signs that you have security, honesty, and openness in your relationship. But remember, you can also do things together to improve on these areas — and make your relationship even more secure.