Co-authored by Elena Nicolaou, writing intern at Avelist
1) You're constantly fighting. Each relationship is different, and some people are more prone to outbursts than others, but there's a big difference between communicating disagreements and working through them with fighting. Make sure what you're doing is healthy and productive. Ask yourself, are these fights productive? Are they yielding greater communication between you and your partner? If not, maybe what you need to have is a conversation, not a fight.
2) People don't like hanging out with you as a couple. Maybe your friends aren't always busy every Friday night you ask them if they want to join you and your partner at a bar. Instead of getting annoyed or offended, which are both understandable reactions,examine your interaction with your significant other.
3) Speaking of friends: simply put, it's not a good sign if your friends dislike your partner. Most of them won't be bold enough to say it outright, but your friends have your back. They'll always have high standards for how you should be treated. Even though when it comes to relationships we think we know best, it's a good idea to explore why your partner is not your friends' favorite person.
4) An equally important point to consider is if you don't like your partner's friends. Who said that you can judge someone based on the company they keep? Your partner might be a dreamboat to you, but if they're hanging out with a bunch of losers, that says a lot.
5) You don't think about your significant other during the day. This one is pretty obvious, but when you really like someone, they should be on your mind.
6) They make you feel small. Not physically small, but emotionally or mentally "lesser." You should feel equal to your partner. Be sure that the relationship is balanced.
7) You feel resentful. Resentment is a stealthily destructive force in a relationship. When feeling resentful, it's easy to fall into a silent, simmering case of passive aggression. Fight against this trend and talk about the grudges you're holding before they eat away everything that's good in the relationship.
8) You don't trust your partner, or they don't trust you. Well, duh. This one is an obvious wakeup call. What's a relationship if there's no trust?
9) They want you to change. There are always things we don't like about other people, but you should be dating each other for who you are, not for who you want each other to be.
10) You don't look forward to being with them. At their best, relationships are a source of joy. Is yours?
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6 Relationship Red Flags
Keeping the Balance in Your Relationship
7 Signs You Should Break Up with Your Partner
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