Dating can be an anxious experience, regardless of how experienced and confident you are. It’s safe to say we’ve all had different dating experiences, whether a handful of less serious relationships to a few serious long-term partnerships. The more we date, the more we learn about what makes a good partner, and what attributes are less than ideal. Numerous challenges and difficulties can arise when first building an intimate relationship with another person, which is only natural. We may have certain expectations about a person or relationship based on past relationships or our desires, but things don’t always pan out that way. Time and experience are both incredibly helpful in navigating us through new relationships, but this isn’t to say we can’t be caught off guard. Before entering into any relationship, it is important you know and love yourself. All too often we see relationships based on unhealthy viewpoints and ideals, which can be quite dangerous. It is easy to get caught up in another person and a new relationship, but this can lead to trouble with the wrong person.
Before you throw caution to the wind and give your all to a new relationship, it’s important to take a step back and ask yourself a few questions. If you’ve ever been in a relationship that has ended badly, there’s a good chance you were blindsided and didn’t see it coming, but your friends did. It can be easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of a new relationship and love, but those who approach dating with caution and wide open eyes are often better off. To save yourself from a bad or potentially abusive relationship, keep an eye out for these five red flags when dating:
- Poor communication – One of the most important aspects of a healthy relationship is communication. If you are in a new relationship with someone who is difficult to talk to and can’t express how they feel, you may have cause for concern. These individuals may distance themselves, play emotional games, or leave their partner hanging. This is not a good sign and should be taken seriously.
- Unpredictable, judgmental, and immature – As an adult, there are certain traits and life skills we must have in order to be a good person. If you are dating someone who is irresponsible, immature, unpredictable, and judgmental towards you and others, a red flag should be raised. This can come in many different forms, from being bad at managing their finances to treating others poorly and making decisions that suck the life out of you.
- They have trust issues – If you start to date someone and they already don’t trust you, it may be time to take a step back. Sure, trust is something that must be earned, but if a person has a hard time being honest with himself and you right from the start, they may not be ready for a ‘real’ relationship.
- Your friends and family don’t like your partner – If there is just something not quite right about the person you are dating, according to your friends and family, you may want to consider what it is they see. It is easy to get caught up in a new relationship and turn a blind eye to these potential warning signs, but listening to your loved ones could save you a lot of time in the end.
- They exhibit controlling behavior – One of the most obvious red flags in dating is someone who is controlling and tries to drive a wedge between you and your loved ones. These behaviors could lead to more serious issues down the road, including physical abuse.
If you are in an abusive relationship or your partner is having a hard time communicating, you may want to seek counseling. Lifeworks offers relationship therapy to couples and individuals throughout Dallas and we are happy to meet with you today and see how we can help.
