Everyone wants a great relationship when in the dating game, however, we have to stumble across some bad relationships in order to grow and strengthen ourselves. Bad relationships prepare us for the future, it allows us to figure out what we don’t want from our significant other. However, when a relationship becomes unhealthy and toxic, it’s hard for us from the inside to see it even though it’s completely clear to outsiders looking in. So before getting into any relationship, what signs should we look for that will help us when we’re blinded by love?

Isolation

A toxic relationship tends to lead individuals to isolation. Meaning they’ll isolate themselves from the people closest to them – family and friends especially. The person who claims to love you shouldn’t have the power to take you away from the people who love you unconditionally. At first, it may seem like they just want to be with you all the time and have you all to them-self, however it is quite a controlling thing to do. You need to have the power to go and be with your family and friends whenever you wish.

Any sort of abuse

This is a major red flag and a sensitive topic. Any sort of verbal, mental, emotional or physical abuse should never be taken lightly. abuse starts small at first but will build and will be repetitive. Don’t wait for it to get worse, at any sign of abuse, you need to protect your own life and get out immediately.

Purely physical

If your relationship only happens in the bedroom, this is a major red flag. Being in a physical relationship only isn’t enough to be healthy – you need more than physical attributes. Emotional, mental and social aspects are all vital parts of being in a relationship and need to be actively utilised in your relationship. If you are in a purely physical relationship, this may not be considered a ‘relationship’.

Loss of interests

Being in a relationship doesn’t mean you need to drop your hobbies, ideas and creativity. In fact, it means you should have more motivation to be creative because your support system is even stronger now. A healthy relationship has two people who are in full support of one another despite how crazy each other’s ideas may be. If you find yourself not being able to channel your inner creativity and continue practising your hobbies, you may need to take a long look in the mirror and figure out why this has happened.

It’s hard for us to see these signs sometimes, especially when we’re caught up in the emotions and excitement of dating. However, it is something we all need to be well aware of because toxic relationships can be extremely damaging to our mental health. We are all striving for a healthy and happy relationship, give yourself that chance.