Brainy Dose Presents:
11 Subtle Signs of a Toxic Relationship Most People Neglect
People stay in bad relationships for any number of reasons.
Maybe their self-esteem is low, they don’t have a firm grasp on their emotions, or perhaps
they are just plain clueless.
Regardless of how these relationships start, they always end up psychologically unhealthy
and even abusive in the end.
You don’t have to tolerate toxic relationships.
All it takes is noticing a few telltale signs that most people usually ignore or think is
normal.
By paying attention to these signs and seeing if they apply to your relationship, you can
take a step back, put your emotions aside, and truly question whether your partner is
bringing value to your life.
Number 1 - Inconsistent or Hurtful Texting
One of the first signs of a toxic relationship can be found right in your text messages.
Are you noticing inconsistent or negative texting themes emerge?
Your relationship might not be on the right track.
Your partner texts when they feel like it, at random times, probably when they’re bored
or want some action.
And when you text them, more often than not, you find yourself waiting for hours or even
days to hear back from them.
It’s important to take note in the early stages of your relationship how the person’s
texting habits make you feel.
If you’re always the one reaching out and there isn’t much reciprocated interest,
this relationship could already be off-balance.
Your partner simply isn’t ready for a serious relationship.
Number 2 - Self-Betrayal
Sometimes, your partner will encourage you to do things that extend beyond your comfort
zone, which can be a good thing.
But, when they push you too far, and you end up doing things you never would’ve done,
that isn’t a good sign.
It indicates that you might be favoring your partners’ interests more and sacrificing
your own priorities.
Even though every relationship takes some adjusting, you have to be true to yourself
at the end of the day.
That means you should consider what you want and not just agree to everything your partner
says.
Number 3 - You Always Feel Guilty, But Don’t Know Why
When you’re in a relationship, you want to be happy and feel loved.
However, if you’re constantly being made to feel like you did something wrong but don’t
really understand why, then your partner is showing signs of manipulation.
These are the kinds of people who tend to stir up trouble and create issues out of thin
air to get what they want.
Because they tend to avoid responsibility and instead place it on someone else, like
you, they’re hard to change.
Don’t always be the scapegoat for them to lean on like a crutch.
Number 4 - They’re Obsessively Jealous
A little jealousy is expected in a relationship.
It shows that someone cares.
But, obsessive jealousy can overstep a boundary by keeping you guarded away from other important
people in your life and from activities you enjoy.
If your partner tends to display unreasonable suspicion when nothing calls for it, that’s
a warning sign that they’ll eventually try to hamper your social life in any way they
can.
Another sign of irrational jealousy is if they demand to do everything together and
don’t allow an inch of privacy for you.
They constantly want to know where you’ve been, who you were with, and why you did something.
Remember that trust is key to every successful relationship.
If trust is not built into your foundation, you can expect trouble down the road.
Number 5 - Your Partner Goes MIA
Does your partner tend to disappear after a fight?
And after days of leaving you in the dark without any response, show up again and act
as if nothing happened?
Serious red flag right there.
No matter how you look at it, this behavior is always toxic.
It leaves you feeling incredibly unstable and unsure in a relationship.
Number 6 - You No Longer Do Things You Love
Your passions are important aspects of who you are as a person.
However, sometimes your partner might not be as in love with your hobbies as you are.
In fact, they might be completely against them.
That could be because of who you interact with or where you go.
But as long as there’s nothing wrong with whatever you’re doing, your partner shouldn’t
be irrational about it.
Even though compromise is required for every relationship, you should never have to give
up your core interests to avoid a fight and become a slave to someone else’s will.
A good relationship is one where you support and encourage each other to learn and grow.
If you’re feeling more trapped than free, that means your partner is trying to chain
you down because of their insecurities.
Number 7 - You Never Know When They’re Going to Explode
Are you constantly filled with anxiety because you never know what might set off your partner’s
ticking time bomb?
Perhaps the trigger might be another one of their insecurities which always results in
those dreaded accusations.
You should have the freedom to speak your truth aloud and to make mistakes without any
major repercussions.
If your partner always overreacts and flies off the handle at every minor inconvenience,
it’s a sign of toxic behavior that could escalate in the future.
Number 8 - You’re Keeping a Scorecard
If both of you are keeping an internal scorecard where you’re trying to one-up each other
in the sense of competition or comparison, then you might be trapped in a toxic relationship.
Though some arguments might be entwined with the past, the habit of constantly digging
up past mistakes is NOT healthy.
Being in a healthy relationship means accepting everything about that person, and that includes
their past mistakes.
If you or your partner find this impossible, this relationship might not be right for you.
Number 9 - They Strip Away Your Self Esteem
Your partner is supposed to lift you up and make you feel better about yourself.
If you’re feeling the complete opposite, and spend your days questioning your self-worth,
that’s a sign of a toxic relationship.
Toxic people love to criticize others and their choices.
They thrive when you are down.
It gives them a sense of power in the relationship when they make you feel like the lesser person.
No matter what, your sole purpose shouldn’t be to please someone else.
Your partner should respect and appreciate you for who you are.
Number 10 - Name-Calling
It can be really sweet and kind when your partner refers to you with terms of endearment.
Now, if they start to call you mean or nasty words that hurt you, that’s incredibly toxic
behavior you could do without.
And if, in turn, you begin to respond to their comments with explicit language, that’s
a sign that they’re pulling you down to their level.
You should never have to sink so low or experience such degradation.
Number 11 - You’re Always the One Going Back
Do you frequently break up and get back together?
That’s a sign of a toxic relationship.
If you’re always the one that has to do the hard work of apologizing, even when you
did nothing wrong, you need to step back and think about what’s really going on.
Too many times, you miss the ideal version of the person you made up in your head.
You were blind to the many flaws that broke off your relationship in the first place.
Try to see your partner as they really are, and evaluate whether you truly want to be
with that type of person.
Though these signs are more subtle and easy to ignore, they’re arguably just as important
as the obvious ones.
Unfortunately, love and happiness don’t always go together.
By paying close attention to the signs around you, it will be easier for you to predict
where a relationship is headed, so you can end it before it’s too late.
And while every relationship requires some sacrifices, you shouldn’t have to compromise
your self-respect, self-esteem, and happiness.
Of course, no relationship is 100% perfect, and you’ll inevitably run into some challenges.
But that doesn’t make it OK for someone to manipulate you or treat you like crap.
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