A toxic relationship can cause a lot of emotional and psychological harm – to one or both partners.
But here’s the thing: warning signs aren’t always easy to recognize, especially when you’re deeply invested in the relationship.
People don’t realize how toxic their relationship is until things get very bad.
When things go wrong, you need to be able to take steps to protect your mental health.
To help you, I’m sharing a list of 13 warning signs that your relationship has become toxic.
Let’s get straight to it:
1) Continuous criticism
One of the most common warning signs that your relationship has become toxic is when your partner keeps finding fault with everything you say and do.
- I left the light on in the kitchen again.
- You forgot to put the toilet seat down.
- You’re so naive, you really believe what they say on the news.
- You’re ridiculous, how can you think such things…
Now, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s normal to have a small dose of criticism in a relationship, it’s human nature after all.
But constant criticism that makes you feel worthless and like you’re no good is not normal, it’s toxic.
2) Lack of trust
If your partner keeps checking up on you to find out where you are and who you’re with, if they get jealous easily, or if you catch them snooping on your phone, you’re dealing with someone they don’t trust. You.
And guess what – trust is essential for a healthy relationship!
Some people have difficulty trusting because they have been hurt in the past. I get it.
But if they don’t deal with the past, they carry it with them into their other relationships, creating a negative atmosphere.
Simply put: mistrust plants toxic seeds in a relationship and needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
3) Behavior control
Well, this usually happens when your partner feels jealous and insecure.
They are afraid of losing you, but instead of dealing with their issues and working on your relationship, they try to keep you by force – by controlling your behavior.
For example, they will monitor your whereabouts by constantly texting and calling you to find out where you are. They will want to know what you do and who you are with.
You may also feel like you can’t make a decision without her and like you’re constantly walking on eggshells to avoid igniting her.
This is actually a pretty big warning sign. No one should tell you how to live your life, let alone control you!
4) Isolation
Building on their controlling behavior is them trying to isolate you from others in your life.
Ask yourself:
Does your partner want you to spend all your free time with him?
When you have plans to go out with friends, does your partner try to guilt you into spending time with them instead?
Are they trying to create conflict between you and your family?
These are just a few examples of how your partner may try to isolate you and prevent you from having other relationships in your life.
If it sounds like something your partner is doing, you need to talk to him about it and tell him that it is unacceptable behavior.
If you don’t feel like you can talk to them, and if things go further, it’s important to reach out to a friend, family member or professional to ask for help.
Remember that even though you may feel isolated, there is always someone you can connect with!
5) Repeated arguments
Does it seem like all you’re doing lately is fighting with your partner?
Is it fair to say that you spend more time fighting or not talking to each other after a fight than you do enjoying each other’s company?
If you answered yes, then your relationship is probably going in a bad direction.
Everyone argues, but their arguments aren’t supposed to dominate their relationship.
So, what happened to you? Everything seems to be going well at first, and now it seems to be turning into a nightmare.
Does that mean you’re with the wrong person? Or is there something you are doing wrong?
Well, according to world-famous shaman Rhoda Iande, the answer lies in the relationship you have with yourself.
In this free, eye-opening video, he explains how most of us grow up with the wrong idea about love. Fairy tales and Hollywood make us search for something that doesn’t exist, and it’s really no surprise that we end up in toxic relationships.
If you want to get to the bottom of why you’re in a toxic relationship and what you can do about it, I highly recommend hearing what Rhoda has to say.
6) Disrespect
Here’s the truth: You can’t have a happy, healthy relationship without respect.
A healthy relationship means that both partners feel free to express their feelings and opinions. They know they will be validated and listened to.
But in a toxic relationship, your needs, thoughts, and emotions are constantly ignored and overlooked.
You may be the target of verbal abuse such as name calling, belittling and various insults.
What’s worse is that your partner doesn’t treat you as an equal.
To be honest, I’m not sure this is something you can fix. I mean how can you make someone respect you? It’s a basic thing, any decent partner should respect you, it’s not something you have to do.
7) Gas lighting
This wonderful term is taken from the title of the 1940s movie Gaslight. They have become very popular in recent years.
So what does that mean exactly?
Basically, if your partner is teasing you, it means that he or she is messing with your head to make you question your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
For example, imagine that your partner does or says hurtful things. You decide to confront them about their behavior, and they respond by telling you that you were overreacting, imagining things, or didn’t understand that they were joking.
They will keep doing it over and over again until you start doubting yourself.
8) Inequality
Does your partner think he or she is superior to you in some way?
Do you feel that your opinion and input are not valued?
Do they continue to make decisions for you and expect you to stand still?
If you answered yes, this is another sure sign that your relationship has become toxic.
9) Lack of communication
One of the foundations of a healthy relationship is good communication.
Good communication means being open and honest, but it also means being able to clearly state your needs and express your thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment.
So, if you and your partner fail to communicate effectively — or at all — your relationship is in trouble.
Without good communication, you end up guessing about the other person’s thoughts and intentions. You are also likely to feel resentful, frustrated, and get into fights.
The bottom line is that you really need to work on your communications if you are committed to making this relationship work.
10) Passive-aggressive behavior
This is often the result of miscommunication.
If your partner feels angry or resentful and doesn’t know how to talk to you about it, he or she will resort to passive-aggressive behavior.
Here are some examples:
Sarcastic statements and backward comments
The silent treatment
Indirect communication, such as leaving you notes instead of talking to you
Forgetting to share important information
It’s all about punishing the other person while maintaining a semblance of politeness.
11) Emotional manipulation
This is also related to poor communication, but it is also about control.
Emotional manipulation occurs when your partner uses guilt, shame, or other tactics to get you to do what he wants.
As warning signs go, this is a big red alert!
12) Lack of interest
Now, just not caring doesn’t always mean your relationship has become toxic.
It’s possible that your partner is going through something that has nothing to do with you.
They may also feel disconnected or disconnected. In this case, there are a lot of things you can do to get your relationship back on track.
But sometimes, a lack of interest means that your partner has lost interest in you and the relationship.
They don’t care how your day is going or how work is going. They are not interested in your hobbies or being part of your world. It’s as if they don’t even care about your well-being.
Basically, they are no longer sure why they are with you.
You deserve to be with someone who cares about you and cares deeply about you.
13) Shifting blame
Another warning sign that your relationship has become toxic is when your partner starts blaming you for everything that goes wrong.
This can be very annoying when it’s not your fault.
This also indicates the fact that they do not want to take responsibility for their actions and may not want to work on repairing your relationship either. That’s why it’s easier to blame you.
