It’s not always easy to spot the early warning signs of a bad relationship. Sometimes, you may not even realize that you’re in one until it’s too late. But by then, the damage has been done.
The good news is that there are some red flags you can look out for early on, before things get too serious. If you can learn to recognize these toxic traits in a relationship, you stand a much better chance of getting out before it’s too late.
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Control
While things like power play and sugar daddy relationships exist, this particular issue can go far deeper if it isn’t consented to by both partners.
Unfortunately, in some cases, one person might try to control every aspect of the relationship in an attempt to seem perfect or avoid conflict. Unfortunately, this often leads to more problems down the road. When someone is constantly trying to control their partner, it creates an environment of mistrust and insecurity. This can cause their partner to feel hemmed in and stifle their own personality, leading to resentment. In the worst cases, a controlling partner might even try to control their partner’s movements and choices, leading to a feeling of being trapped.
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Criticism
Toxic criticism is any form of feedback that is designed to be hurtful or destructive. It can take many different forms, but all toxic criticism shares one key feature: it is intended to harm rather than help. Toxic criticism can be devastating to both the individual who receives it and the relationship between the two people involved. It can cause feelings of insecurity, self-doubt, and worthlessness and damage trust and communication. If you find yourself receiving toxic criticism, it is important to remember that you are not responsible for the other person’s hurtful words or actions. You can choose to respond in a constructive and positive way, or you can decide to walk away from the situation altogether. Whichever option you choose, remember that you have the power to protect yourself from toxic criticism.
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Defensiveness
When you’re in a relationship, it’s important to feel like you can be yourself around your partner. After all, one of the main reasons for being in a relationship is to have someone who accepts and loves you for who you are. That said, there should still be a healthy level of mutual respect. If your partner is constantly putting you on the defensive, it may be time to reconsider the relationship. Defensiveness is often a sign that someone doesn’t feel confident in themselves, and as a result, they try to put the blame on their partner. This can create an unhealthy dynamic where both partners are always on edge. In addition, defensiveness can be a way of deflecting criticism instead of taking responsibility.
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Disrespect
Respecting your partner is one of any relationship’s most important foundation rocks. It’s easy to take our loved ones for granted and get caught up in the daily grind, but it’s important to remember that everyone deserves to be treated with kindness and respect. Unfortunately, toxic relationships often involve a lack of respect from one or both partners. This can manifest itself in many different ways, from neglecting to communicate properly to actively engaging in hurtful behavior.
If you find yourself regularly disrespecting your partner, it’s important to take a step back and assess why this is happening. It may be a sign that the relationship is toxic and needs to end. Alternatively, it may be indicative of a deeper issue that needs to be addressed. In either case, it’s important to be honest with yourself and your partner in order to move forward in a healthy way.
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Extreme jealousy
In any close relationship, it’s normal to feel a twinge of jealousy now and then. But when jealousy becomes all-consuming, it can take over your life and poison your relationship. If you’re constantly worried about your partner cheating on you or flirting with others, if you’re snooping through their emails or texts looking for evidence of an affair, or if you’re feeling isolated and controlled by your partner, then it’s time to get help. Jealousy is a normal emotion, but extreme jealousy is often a sign of deeper issues such as low self-esteem, insecurity, or even mental illness. If left unchecked, jealousy can ruin even the happiest of relationships.
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Gaslighting
Most of us like to think that we have a pretty good handle on reality. We trust our own experiences and memories, and we generally believe what we see and hear. But what happens when the people closest to us start to call those experiences and memories into question? When they start gaslighting us, it can be incredibly confusing and destabilizing. Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse that involves manipulating someone into doubting their own reality. It’s a way of exerting power and control over another person, and it can occur in any kind of relationship – romantic, platonic, or professional.
If you’re in a gaslighting relationship, you may feel like you’re constantly walking on eggshells, never quite sure what the truth is. Your partner or friend may lie to you outright, or they may twist your words and make you question your own memory. They may try to convince you that you’re being too sensitive or that you imagine things that never actually happened. If you’re being gaslit, it’s important to remember that you are not crazy – the person gaslighting you is deliberately trying to distort your reality.
Toxic relationships come in all shapes and sizes, but they often share common warning signs. If you’re worried that your relationship may be toxic, take a look at the six signs we’ve outlined above. If you’re experiencing any of them, it may be time to take a step back and reassess your relationship. Remember, you deserve to be treated with respect.