The One Relationship Red Flag You Should Never Ignore
These days, it feels like there are millions of red flags to look out for when embarking on a new relationship. With terms like ghosting, gaslighting, and stashing infiltrating our dating vocabulary, there are dating landmines just about everywhere.
For the more cynical lovers out there, it can be difficult to know which red flags are actually red, rather than a symptom of projection or trust issues. Equally, in the whirlwind of a new relationship, it can be very easy – too easy, in fact – to miss some of the biggest warning signs.
But there are some red flags that might signify you should take your bags and run, as fast as humanly possible, away from that relationship. You don't want to end up locked down in an unhappy coupling because you ignored your compatibility issues, for example.
While some red flags could be passed off as amber in that honeymoon phase, there is one red flag you should never ignore — and it involves communication.
Poor communication is a huge relationship red flag
According to Women's Health, the most common reason for divorce is communication issues. Considering communication is one of the most important parts of a relationship, this might not come as much of a surprise. Speaking to Cosmopolitan, psychosexual and relationship therapist Sarah Calvert says "I cannot stress enough how important good communication is. Without it, resentment, fear or distrust can build up and there's nothing like this trio to cause relationship problems."
More specifically, though, you need to be able to communicate with your partner about how you feel. If you can't do that, reports Cosmopolitan, it might be that your relationship isn't very healthy and you should take a step back and think about why it is that you can't talk openly and honestly with your partner.
While your partner doesn't need to know every minor detail of your life — like the fact you find their friend hot — you need to be able to talk about the things that truly matter. According to Holly Roberts, a counselor who spoke to Cosmopolitan about this red flag, "If you're not able to be yourself in the early days, then you might become someone that you don't recognize years down the line."
If you don't feel like you can be completely forthcoming with your partner, it might be time to reconsider the relationship.