Here's how to know when your relationship becomes toxic. If you start noticing any of these signs in your relationship, it's high time to make some changes.
Relationships evolve. While some relationships kick off with friendship and lead to something healthy and special, others may turn out toxic.
Unfortunately, most relationships don't start toxic. It starts with the I love you messages, the butterflies in your stomach, and you feel on top of the world.
How does something so beautiful turn into a series of cheating, emotional abuse, betrayal, and unsolicited arguments?
It usually starts with the insecurity issues, history with an ex, verbal abuse, physical abuse. Little by little, you start losing your self-confidence, and you're no longer happy in your relationship.
What's worse? Women aren't the only ones that suffer from being in a toxic relationship. Many men are in toxic relationships too.
We know how hard it is to identify a toxic relationship, especially if you're in one.
To make things easier for you, here are a few of our top telltale signs you need to look out for in your relationship.
1. Insecurity And Jealousy
Everyone gets a little jealous at some point in their lives. In fact, the subtle jealousy might have been cute when you first started dating. However, once you remove the love-colored glasses and you start noticing your partner blames you for their insecurity or goes behind your back checking through your emails and call log, your relationship might be toxic.
If they always want to know where you are, what you're doing, and who you're with, there's trouble.
If your partner doesn't allow you to keep friends or forces you to change something because they are feeling insecure, then your relationship is toxic.
Top tip: Jealousy itself isn't a toxic behavior, but if your partner punishes you out of jealousy and insecurity, then your relationship might have crossed the toxic threshold.
2. The Belittling Partner – Nothing You Do Is Good Enough
When your partner constantly ridicules your opinions, ideas, contributions, and beliefs, your relationship might be toxic.
If they make fun of you, compare you with other people, and hides it behind jokes, you have a toxic partner.
After a while, your self-esteem starts to dive, and you're always trying to please them.
If you tolerate this emotional manipulation, they become the sole decision-makers in the relationship, and you may start believing `you can't do anything right.'
Some toxic partners might even go as far as downgrading you in front of friends and family.
Top tip: The way they treat you says a lot about them, not you.
If you notice your partner is a belittler, make a conscious effort to leave the toxic relationship.
3. Makes You Feel Bad Every Time
Relationships aren't as easy as your favorite movie suggests. It requires a lot of sacrifices. However, if your partner takes you through hell and back when they are feeling down, they might be toxic.
If they are always dragging you down whenever they are unhappy, the negative energy can quickly turn your relationship toxic.
Top tip: It's not possible to feel happy all time, but if they're making you carry the burden during any slight inconvenience, it could ruin your healthy relationship.
4. All The Effort, Work, And Sacrifice Comes From You
It takes two to tango, but if you're the only one doing the dancing, then your relationship is toxic. A relationship grows when the two partners contribute, work, and make an extra effort to keep the love alive and healthy.
Sadly, if you're the only one contributing emotionally, mentally, and financially, you're in an unhealthy relationship.
Relationships should come with small sacrifices. However, if you're the only one adjusting your schedule to make your relationship work, you're on a trip to an unending cycle of loneliness.
Know when enough is enough.
5. Physical Or Verbal Abuse
Don't stay through physical, emotional, or verbal abuse. Once you see signs of violence, it's a big red flag. Even if it isn't yet, your relationship may turn abusive and toxic.
6. The Lies
Trust is one of the pillars of a healthy relationship, and once your partner breaks that trust, it can signal irreplaceable damage to your relationship.
When you notice a stream of lying and cheating from your partner, you start growing suspicious and insecure.
No matter how forgiving you are, there may always be a shed of broken trust in your relationship.
The betrayal of trust can turn you from the loving partner into a nagging, cynical lover.
Although it may be subconsciously, you may have become the toxic one in the relationship.
7. You're Always Alone After Every Fight
Arguing in a relationship is absolutely normal! You and your partner can't always see things eye to eye. Naturally, arguments are bound to happen. What really matters is how you settle your fights as a couple. If you notice a trend of your partner sulking and disappearing for days, weeks, or months after your fight − It's a big warning sign.
If your partner doesn't try to settle but instead chooses to leave you and go on a hiatus, you may be in a toxic relationship.
Top tip: Your partner may need some time to cool off, especially if you had a heated argument. But if they always leave you and expect you to come back begging, they may be toxic.
8. You're Always Unhappy
Healthy relationships just work! A healthy relationship will give you peace of mind, happiness, and stability. However, if you find yourself always feeling unhappy, depressed, sad, or stressed when you're with your partner, you may need to re-evaluate your relationship.
9. You're Hoping For A Turn-Around
If you're still staying in a relationship because you're hoping your partner will change, your relationship might be toxic.
10. The Gold Diggers – They're Only Around Only For The Benefits
Your relationship should be teamwork. But if you're losing more than you're gaining, you may be dating a user.
During the early stages of the relationship, they'll go above and beyond to sweep you off your feet.
They remain loyal till they can't get aren't gaining from you anymore. And once you can't provide anymore, they make you feel guilty.
Top tip: Some gold diggers may occasionally buy you gifts to make you feel special. It's a trap.
Usually, the gifts aren't thoughtful or expensive.
If you know you're seeing signs of a user, you need to take the exit door.
Conclusion
It sucks being in a toxic relationship, and it's even harder to leave, especially since you've invested a lot of time and effort into it.
The good news is – it's never too late to leave a toxic relationship.
In fact, staying in a toxic relationship might hurt you, your family, and friends more than it would have if you make the conscious effort to cut off the toxic ties.
Instead of seeing it as a setback, look at your toxic relationship as a lifelong experience.
After all, you deserve a happily ever after.
