The longer and deeper the relationship, the harder it is to acknowledge that some aspects of it need fixing. And harder still to get out of it when fixing is not an option.

Anyone can end up in a toxic relationship—regardless of how old they are, what gender they are, or how smart they are.

If something is hurting you in your own relationship, or the relationship of someone you know, you can do something about it, but the first step is acknowledging all the negative aspects of the relationship. Here are 4 signs that a relationship may be unhealthy.

1. One or both partners drop their friends or other interests.

For a healthy, balanced relationship, it’s important that both partners continue to pursue their interests, see friends and family, and enjoy their hobbies. If you have stopped doing things you once loved or stop seeing people who you care about and enjoy because of the relationship, you can begin to lose the person that you are.

2. One or both partners are very possessive or jealous.

Feeling a little bit of jealousy in a relationship is normal. However, if your partner always wants to know who you are with, what you are doing, or where you are, it’s a problem. Behaviors such an constantly calling texting, checking a person’s social media, or asking other people about their partner’s whereabouts is a major sign that there is a lack of trust in the relationship. Without trust, there is no solid foundation for a healthy relationship to blossom.

3. One partner makes the other partner feel nervous.

There’s the type of nervousness that makes you feel butterflies in your tummy and cause your cheeks to feel hot. This is the type of happy, excited, nervousness that comes at the beginning of many relationships. However, if a partner makes you feel uneasy that you are constantly doing something wrong, that’s a sign of trouble. If you often feel nervous about sharing your opinions or thoughts on something because you are worried about how your partner could react, this indicates a sense of power and control they have over you, which is not healthy.

4. One partner is often disrespectful of the other.

In any relationship, it’s important to treat another person in a way that shows you care. Being frequently disrespectful or inconsiderate of someone you consider important to you is not okay.

These are just a couple of signs of how a relationship may be unhealthy. However, if one or more of these behaviors are present, it might be worth evaluating whether the relationship is meant to be. While it is hard to leave a person that you deeply care about, love or depend on, feeling loved, safe, and comfortable in a relationship is more important.

Sources: https://www.joinonelove.org/signs-unhealthy-relationship/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/in-practice/201502/51-signs-unhealthy-relationship