You meet someone, you fall in love, and everything seems fairy tale perfect. But as we all know, things don’t always work out. Losing someone we care for is an unfortunate yet universal experience. The process of getting over a broken heart is never easy; it takes time to heal and move on from the pain of rejection or abandonment after trust has been broken. Fortunately, there are ways to spot trouble coming before it strikes. Some people are equipped with pre-emptive protective measures — intuition being one of them. Knowing how to recognize red flags early can save you from a great deal of future pain and heartache. How do you know if your relationship is going south? Read on to find out what could go wrong in your current love affair:
Know the Signs of a Bad Relationship
There are many ways to know that a relationship is toxic or headed for failure. However, not every red flag will indicate a toxic relationship. Red flags are just warning signs that indicate there might be a problem. First and foremost, a bad relationship will make you feel bad about yourself as a person. If you find yourself feeling constantly criticized, badgered and berated for being who you are, then there is a very good chance your partner is verbally abusive. Abuse comes in many forms, and it’s important to recognize the warning signs as early as possible so that you can get yourself out of a bad situation before it escalates into something even worse. If your partner regularly belittles you and/or puts you down, minimize your accomplishments, and/or exhibits controlling behavior, these are all warning signs that you might be in a verbally abusive relationship. Learn How to Make Your Love Miss You – Can You Get Him To Come Back?
You Don’t Have Similar Goals and Values
Even though you might still feel some spark towards each other, it’s important to realize that love alone is not enough to make a long-term relationship work. Couples who find themselves with a lack of common goals and values will have to work hard to make a relationship last — if they succeed at all. If you and your partner are not on the same page, you may find that you are constantly butting heads about the direction your relationship is going in. If you and your partner have different life goals and/or values, it’s important to discuss this issue as soon as you start to notice a difference. If you don’t address a lack of common goals and values early on in your relationship, it’s likely to cause major problems further down the line. It’s important to discuss your goals and values with your partner early on in order to establish a strong foundation for your relationship.
You Feel Constantly Badgered and/or Shamed for Being Who You Are
If your partner is constantly trying to change you, they might not be interested in you for who you truly are. A bad partner will try to change who you are at a very basic level. Many abusive partners will try to “fix” their significant others because they believe their SO is broken in some way. They will try to change their partner’s personality, appearance, or behaviour — usually without the other person’s consent or permission. A partner who tries to change you will eventually bore you to death. If your SO is badgering you about changing your appearance, personality, or behaviour, this is a very clear sign that you do not have a good partner. Learn How to Tell If Your Boyfriend Is Ready for a Relationship
Your Partner is Sexist, and Shows Little to No Respect for Women in General
To some degree, everyone is a little bit sexist, but if your partner has blatant negative opinions about women in general, they are likely to treat you poorly. A partner who is sexist will likely expect you to fulfill certain sexist stereotypes. If your partner expects you to do all the housework, cook all the meals, and/or look a certain way, chances are they do not respect you or other women. If you find that you are constantly feeling as though you have to defend other women/yourself against your partner’s negative opinions, it’s a clear sign that your partner does not respect you or other women.
Your Partner Shows Signs of Co- Dependency
People who are codependent are often drawn to toxic relationships. Codependents are people who are so focused on fixing someone else’s problems that they forget about their own. Your partner might be codependent if they constantly try to fix your problems or if they make it clear that they feel responsible for your happiness. A good partner will listen to your problems, but they will not try to solve them. A good partner will be there for you when you need someone to talk to, but they will also respect your right to figure things out for yourself. A partner who constantly tries to fix your problems or feels responsible for your happiness is likely codependent. Learn Prenuptial Agreements in Marriage and Everything You Need to Know
You Haven’t Been Given a Good Reason Why Your Partner Doesn’t Want to Commit Yet
You might be tempted to believe that every relationship has a different timetable and that every couple moves at their own pace. While this is true to some degree, there are also certain expectations that come with being in a relationship. A relationship is a partnership, and when both people want to be in a committed relationship, it’s only natural that both parties want to know when this commitment is going to occur. If your partner has not brought up the subject of commitment yet, it might be because they don’t want to be in a committed relationship with you. If your partner has shown all of these signs, it’s possible that they are not interested in building a long-term relationship with you. It’s also important to keep in mind that every relationship will experience some bumps and missteps along the way. However, if you notice several of these signs, there is definitely a problem that needs to be addressed.
Bottom Line
If you see any of the signs listed above, it’s important to end the relationship as soon as possible. It’s better to end things now while you’re single than end things later while you’re miserable in a bad relationship. If your relationship has any of these issues, it doesn’t mean that you can’t work through them. It just means that there are some issues that you and your partner need to work on together in order to make your relationship stronger.