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The early stages of any new relationship are always the most intense. This is the time when the exhilaration of meeting the right person is the most pronounced, and we feel immediately close and may even become focused on thinking about them frequently or on an ongoing basis.<\/p>\n
This is typically a period of time when all of our emotional energy is on the relationship. Hormonal changes in the body, including higher levels of adrenaline, create a high level of emotional awareness. The levels of serotonin, which naturally calm and relax a person, are low, leading to a heightened sense of every interaction with the person who is the object of your focus.<\/p>\n
When these hormonal changes occur, we experience a state of constant emotional and physical alertness. The sense of euphoria also creates an emotional state of wanting to get closer to the person and to make them want you. This often results in dropping personal boundaries and even taking risks that are not something you would do if you were not attracted to an individual.<\/p>\n
Why We Ignore the Red Flags<\/strong> In addition to the physiological issues that are occurring, there are several other reasons that people ignore the red flags of a love avoidant or narcissistic partner:<\/p>\n \u00b7 Love bombing \u2013 the narcissist capitalizes on the initial euphoria of the relationship by piling on attention and affection, often with over-the-top displays of love that are designed to overwhelm the partner. This is excessive and may include actual gifts, or it may just be promises of things to come.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Personal trauma \u2013 individuals who have experienced early trauma, particularly in their childhood, often feel familiar with the experience of being with a love avoidant or distant partner. This creates a sense of comfort or ease in the relationship that would be a red flag to another person without a similar background.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Low self-esteem -individuals with low self-esteem often find the attention and the ability of the narcissist to mold themselves into the \u201cperfect partner.\u201d This is a fa\u00e7ade designed to make themselves more appealing and desirable, masking the controlling or avoidant behavior that is their true nature.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Too fast to process \u2013 narcissists have experience in seeing past relationships deteriorate due to their behavior. They often move very quickly in the initial stages, asking partners to move in or even marry in just weeks or months of getting to know each other. This is a static maneuver to push the partner into a relationship before the issues begin to surface.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Second guessing our gut feelings \u2013 it is not uncommon for people to second guess their initial response to bad behavior by their partner. This could include making excuses or convincing ourselves of their good intentions rather than acknowledging the negative behavior that occurred.<\/p>\n \u00b7 Overcommunication \u2013 one of the red flags that is often misunderstood is the constant need of the narcissist or love avoidant to know where the other partner is, even if they are vague or even absent. Multiple texts, phone calls, and social media messages are often a part of love bombing as well as a method of control and pressure. Recognizing Red Flags<\/strong> Listen to friends or loved ones if they are expressing concerns about the new partner. They may indicate you have changed, are more isolated, or they may indicate you seem to be giving in to everything he wants to do. Talking to a therapist or joining a community such as the Wake Up Recovery Inner Circle<\/a> can be helpful in determining if the relationship is healthy and in setting boundaries to keep you safe. There is nothing more powerful then gaining support from others going through a similar journey as you.<\/p>\n References Reviewed<\/strong> How To Tell if Someone is a Narcissist<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nSuppose the person we are with in the early stages of a romantic relationship is a narcissist or love avoidant. In that case, these changes in our natural behavior can cause us to miss the red flags of the problems in the relationship. To further complicate matters, the physical and sexual attraction at the start of the relationship can override natural caution. It can also cause people to rush into relationships even if they notice the red flags of a potential problem.<\/p>\n
\nLook for multiple signs or signs that progressively become more evident in your relationship as key indicators you may be dating a love avoidant or narcissist.<\/p>\n
\nIf you are concerned about the issues you see in the relationship and think they may be indicators of a love avoidant or narcissistic partner, one of the most effective steps is to simply slow the relationship down. If this request causes anger, defensiveness, or demands to stay on the fast pace, it is possible the individual is a narcissist or love avoidant.<\/p>\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/what-is-love-bombing-5223611
\nhttps:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/get-hardy\/201203\/the-early-stages-falling-in-love
\nhttps:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/toxic-relationships\/201810\/red-flags-and-blind-spots-in-dating-narcissist
\nhttps:\/\/psychcentral.com\/lib\/5-red-flags-and-blind-spots-in-dating-a-narcissist#5<\/p>\n