9 Red Flags That A Relationship Is In Trouble

If you think something is wrong, there probably is.

James E. McGinley, PhD
2 min readJul 26, 2022
Couple quietly ignoring each other.
Photo by cottonbro on Pexels

We have all either been in or seen unhealthy relationships. They usually violate the basic rules of trust and reciprocity. When a relationship is healthy, we have an expectation of understanding, support, and fair treatment. When it is not healthy, we feel unappreciated, manipulated, and exploited.

Of course, not all relationships are perfectly balanced. That is ok. Not one is perfect and no union is perfect. But, within the limits of our personal flaws and the flaws of others, we still expect to be treated with respect.

So, how do we know things are unbalanced, unfair, or lack compassion? Basically, we know something is wrong when we sense that things are one-sided, territorial, manipulative, or always in conflict.

Here are a few red flags we can look for.

· They disregard your successes.

· They lack sympathy for your pain or struggles.

· They make you barter for their attention.

· They ask for favors but never return them.

· You always have to say yes, but resent it later.

· They never apologize when they are wrong.

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James E. McGinley, PhD

James McGinley, PhD is a professor, author, certified life coach, and licensed counselor.