A toxic relationship is a huge red flag sewn together from many tiny ones.
So take note of these red flags.
Lying becomes second nature for you or your partner
It never stops at just one lie.
Dishonesty can eat away at the very core of love.
It goes without saying that lying is a major red flag in romantic relationships.
Things take a turn for the worse when lying becomes a compulsive habit or is used for ulterior motives.
You’re bombarded with unsolicited, destructive criticism
Criticism is best when it’s constructive.
“Criticism is when a complaint is expressed as a character flaw,” couples therapist Zach Brittle toldHuffPost.
It’s easily distinguishable from healthy feedback, which focuses on problem-solving with the intent to find actual solutions.
So don’t let your partner pass off criticism as feedback!
There’s a clear lack of trust
A relationship can neither thrive nor survive without trust.
That’s because a lot of other equally important things are linked to trust, according to experts.
And so, building on it is an essential exercise in a relationship.
But, asWomen’s Healthnotes, exchanging TikToks with your significant other on social media hardly qualifies.
Spending quality time with each other is a gateway to healthier communication and trust.
Healthy and open communication has long been understood as the hallmark of successful partnerships as have conflicts.
An amalgamation of the two is what determines the longevity of a relationship.
The operative idea here is that conflicts are unavoidable in relationships.
The decline of dinner dates or intimate outings between partners unfortunately signals a major red flag in relationships.
Date night doesn’t necessarily have to be an elaborate affair with candlelit dinners and rose baths.
Date nights strengthen communication and emotional commitment, experts observe.
Taking each other for granted can snuff out the whole relationship!
A relationship is like a Venn diagram comprising two entities that overlap, but not fully.
Is that at all fair … or true?
Like all relationships, romantic alliances are at their healthiest when secured by personal boundaries.
Overstepping boundaries and breaking trust can thus be detrimental to the relationship and each partner’s mental health.
As Park puts it, “It is a two-way street.”
You feel emotionally drained in their presence
A loving partner should fulfill you, not drain you.
Being with an emotionally draining person won’t do your mental health any good.
Healthy communication may see a setback, and intimacy could take a back seat.
A nurturing relationship is built on equal partnership: you give what you take.
An imbalance in that dynamic may warrant a relook at your relationship!
Jealousy hangs over your relationship
The green monster comes bearing a red flag.
That said, jealousy can be perceived differently by different people.
You may feel flattered when your partner gets overprotective of you around a certain friend.
And, believe it or not, some envy could keep your romantic health in check.
You are highly codependent on your significant other
Everybody needs a shoulder to lean on.
Clingy or needy is what such a person is often referred to, in common parlance.
You don’t need this.
Insecurity gets in the way of love
Insecurity can affect even the most confident of us.
It’s a core part of being human.
From jealousy to codependency, insecurity can foster a range of responses unfavorable to a relationship.
That said, feelings of insecurity aren’t always accurate determinants of a toxic relationship.
