9 Signs of a Poisonous Relationship

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Have you ever been in a relationship where you felt something was off? Maybe you didn’t have great communication with your partner or you felt they held you back from growing. These are signs of a poisonous relationship, and they should always be taken seriously.

A healthy relationship will be filled with fun dates, positive emotional growth, and a feeling of true happiness in your heart. Unfortunately, not all relationships can be this way. When your relationship becomes a source of intense stress and drama, there is something wrong. Sometimes these signs can be difficult to spot, so people might not even be aware they’re in a bad relationship. When you love someone, it can be hard to admit to yourself that there are any real negatives. But it’s important to always be looking for someone who brings out the best version of you.

Here are nine red flags of a toxic relationship you should be on the lookout for.

They don’t support your dreams or desires to grow.

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Instead of being supportive of your dreams, they will see growth and change as a negative. The fact is people change over time as they learn new things and opinions evolve. However, your partner will see that as flawed and diminish your achievements. They are insecure in the relationship, and will see your hobbies and interests as threatening. In a toxic relationship, you will feel that you are being held back by the partner. Growth is incredibly important for any person and for romantic relationships as well. Healthy relationships will promote growth of yourself and the couple as you actively explore things together.

They avoid meeting your family and friends.

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A toxic partner is not worried about building a foundation with your friends or family. Instead of treating the experience like an opportunity to strengthen the relationship, they will view it as an unnecessary obligation. At every turn, they will tell you how much they are giving up in order to spend time with your loved ones. They might say things like “I guess I will tell the boys they can’t count on me for poker night.” In addition, they might make you feel like you owe them for taking up their time. When they do finally meet your family, they will be distant, rude, and not put any effort to developing friendships.

They call you names and make you feel less-than.

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If your partner makes you feel stupid or regularly calls you names, there is something very wrong going on. A partner should lift you up and not tear you down. They should never make you feel bad about your interests, beliefs or hobbies even if it’s different form their own. No one is perfect, but unnecessary criticism to make you feel insignificant is not something you should tolerate in a relationship. Healthy couples never make the other person feel unvalued or worthless. If you have asked your partner to cease this kind of behavior, but they still actively make you feel less-than, it might be a sign to move on quickly.

They do not have any positive communication with you.

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We all have learned that yelling at people almost never ends in positive results. It is natural to get upset and argue, but if there is no real communication about the problem then nothing will change. Couples have to work hard to learn how to have effective communication with each other if they want to survive for the long haul. If your significant other avoids any real discussion, then you might be in a poisonous relationship. A bad partner may be very distant after an argument or refuse to take any responsibility in the relationship. This will cause your relationship to break down very quickly.