This is how to recognize if you are in a toxic relationship

Lil Kleine and Jaimie Vaes. Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. If you weren't familiar with the term toxic relationship, you have surely heard it somewhere recently. The toxic relationship is simply explained as a connection between two people that is harmful. And that doesn't happen overnight.

In the beginning, love is bigger than you. The butterflies in your stomach make you fly, you feel the rush of being in love, and this must/will/is going to be a long and happy one. Unfortunately, toxic relationships often last too long, but they are anything but happy. But how do you notice that your relationship is becoming toxic? There is one important signal: it is impossible to be yourself any longer.

But what about that argument where you slam the door behind you and stomp out? That can be very healthy. If you feel safe enough to show your partner how you feel, then expressing a disagreement can actually improve your relationship. It's about respecting each other's boundaries and that it is (especially within an argument) safe to express yourself.

A toxic relationship often develops gradually. It never happens overnight, and that makes it even harder to leave. The partner's behavior usually changes bit by bit and comes with many promises to do better afterward. Small initial signals within a relationship are, for example, jealousy, wanting to control what you do, losing all your energy after a date, and increasingly crossing your boundaries.

It is important to know that it is f*cking (pardon my French) difficult to step out of a toxic relationship. A characteristic of a toxic relationship is that one has power over the other, which makes it even more complicated. People in a toxic relationship often withdraw from social life, while friends and family can actually help. And do you feel like you can't get out of it yourself? Ask for help from a professional to find yourself again.

When dating, there are already a few red flags that can be a precursor to a toxic relationship:

Love bombing – someone who manipulates you by constantly declaring their love

Pocketing – keeping a relationship secret

Icing – you are put on ice for a while, but then your relationship can come out of storage again

Cookie-jarring – you are plan B, the next cookie in the jar

Source: De Standaard and Holistik