This article contains references to domestic abuse.
When it comes to relationships, it can sometimes be impossible to predict where things will go.
If this sounds familiar, you aren’t alone.
Relationships turn sour for plenty of reasons.
For some couples, it might just be a case of a bad match.
For others, the relationship itself might become actively toxic and dangerous.
Even if you don’t feel physically threatened, you may feel emotionally uneasy in your home.
In fact, being able to say no is an indicator of a strong relationship.
“By saying no, you’re creating a boundary,” Margarita Tartakovsky, MS, wrote forPsychCentral.
“And boundaries are essential for any healthy relationship.”
“This kind of behavior is never acceptable and often comes from a deep-seated sense of entitlement and power.
“Sarcasm can cause emotional damage to the partner and negatively impact the relationship.
It can be nice to feel like your partner is just a bit obsessed with you.
After all, clinginess can quickly turn into possessiveness and jealousy.
Your partner tends to get irrationally jealous about you
Jealousy can become pretty toxic in a relationship.
It is also likened to “greater dissatisfaction with the relationship in general.”
Over time, this behavior will likely lead to an unbalanced relationship dynamic.
“This red flag can sometimes be resolved through open and honest communication.
Moreover, when you just don’t feel like getting intimate, you should never feel pressured into it.
Being pressured in this way is known as sexual coercion.
As relationship expert Jessica Alderson toldHuffPost, it’s never okay.
“You aren’t obligated to do anything against your will,” Alderson said.
“How you deal with it depends on the severity of the situation.”
If you think your partner is pressuring you without meaning to, it’s important to communicate your concerns.
No relationship is perfect, so being able to talk through your issues with your partner is vital.
“For example, your partner may not be providing a safe environment for you to express yourself.
“This may be a ‘you problem,'” Wills hypothesized.
They don’t celebrate your wins
This is one red flag that can be tricky to spot.
Needless to say, over time, this probably won’t lead to a happy relationship.
Failing to celebrate a partner’s wins can cause resentment to build up over time.”
According to a2017 study, love bombing is often a clear sign of narcissism.
“Love bombing is classic narcissistic or histrionic behavior,” psychiatrist Alex Wills, MD, asserted.
“One of the most powerful tools of emotional abuse and manipulation is the control of affection.
Love bombing’s evil twin brothers are demeaning and abandoning very powerful tools of emotional control.”
Relationship expert Jessica Alderson added that love bombing is a form of manipulation people use to control others.
They can’t seem to compromise with you
Compromise is key in any relationship.
No couple wants exactly the same thing all of the time.
A2017 studyeven found that relationships in which men were to compromise after childbirth were more likely to last.
“Compromise is essential in any healthy relationship, and it shows that your partner cares about your needs.
“It may end badly if it continues.”
Relationship expert Jessica Alderson agreed that isolation is a tool for control.
“Your partner might not want you to talk to anyone else about your relationship or their behavior.
Ideally, you and your partner will share at least a few interests.
According to a2015 surveyof married adults, 64% claimed shared interests were key to a successful long-term relationship.
Ideally, your partner responds to the bid and engages.
“Even the best of us miss bids on occasion.
Often it’s quite innocent,” Feuerman toldHuffPost.
“The key is to respond to a majority of them.
Naturally, being in a relationship with someone who is blinded by self-obsession isn’t easy.
In fact, it can often lead to toxic behaviors in the relationship.
Moreover, it isn’t always noticeable in the early stages of a relationship.
Maybe they ask you to review a work project or email before they submit it.
Maybe, they ask you to come to an event with them because “they need your support.”
However, as it turns out, too much co-dependence can actually be a bad sign.
Numerous relationship experts have also explained exactly why independence is so important over the years.
Lynsey Murray, a licensed professional counselor, also explained another issue with a lack of independence toPaired Magazine.
Many relationships begin with an evening at a bar or dinner and drinks.
“Alcohol can be used as a way to escape reality or mask problems in a relationship.
Alderson also suggested that it’s important to spend time with your partner when all parties are sober.
Every now and then, many of us enjoy indulging in a juicy true crime podcast or TV show.
Another psychologist explained that it can even be a sign of previous trauma.
After all, that’s the stuff all romantic comedies are built on.
In turn, they are less likely to put real work into the relationship.
In fact, they might even ghost a partner if they decide they aren’t destined to be together.
