Dating Advice: Red Flags That Tell You Your Significant Other May Not Be Good for You

By Margot Riddle

No quote can quite sum up toxic relationships more than Wanda the Owl's quote from Bojack Horseman: "You know, it's funny; when you look at someone through rose-colored glasses, all the red flags just look like flags."

Even when red flags in relationships are glaringly obvious, love and lust can cause you to flush your common sense down the toilet. So if you're reading this, be honest with yourself about what your romantic relationship with your S.O. actually looks like. If any of these sound familiar, it may be time to run. 
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You Don't Enjoy Being Around Them

Yeah, yeah, I know, this one is quite the duh suggestion in a list of red flags, but if being around them is more of an obligation than it is a source of joy, ask yourself why that might be. Is the spark gone? Maybe you always get into small arguments every time you're around each other. Or maybe the way they pick food out of their teeth and flick it across the room has officially turned from quirky to downright questionable.

While everyone needs time alone or with other people to recharge and to maintain a healthy balance in their lives, rarely wanting to be around your significant other probably means something is wrong. 
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They Have Poor Boundaries with Others

If your romantic partner has porous and downright unreliable boundaries they refuse to enforce, that can spell trouble down the road. Not sure what I mean? Let's say for example one of their parents or friends speaks poorly of you or treats you badly when you are around them. You ask your partner to shut down the trash talk and they refuse to intervene in the name of "maintaining the peace". They do not care about your peace, only what is convenient to them. Remember, partnerships go both ways. If they hide behind you instead of standing next to you during conflicts, it's time to say goodbye. 
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They Disrespect You

Does your S.O. ever...

• Tease you in a mean way....every day?
• Only want to do what they want to do?
• Called your ideas "stupid" or other negative words to you?
• Ignores you or neglects giving you personal attention in favor of looking at their phone or TV?

​These are just a few "yikes" actions that can signal big red flags with your partner. Especially if you've told them multiple times how much certain actions hurt you and nothing has changed.

Overall, you deserve to be loved and treated like the precious human you are. Accept nothing less. Even if they are super hot, looks fade, but that delicious and sexy dose of respect and love for you is well worth it...if you learn to let go.