Red Flags In A New Relationship To Run Away From ASAP

When you’re in a new relationship, it can sometimes be difficult to spot the red flags, especially when it’s been a while since you’ve dated someone you like so much. However, being aware of these potentially dangerous behaviors and nipping them in the bud right away before they get out of hand (or before you become more invested in the relationship). Here are some major red flags to be on the lookout for and run from immediately if you spot them.

  1. They start love bombing you. Whether you both believe in love at first sight or not, the truth is that you can’t love someone before you actually know them. If you’re in a new relationship and your partner is always professing their undying love or going on and on about how you’re soulmates and they’ve never felt this way before, it’s one of the biggest red flags out there. This kind of behavior is problematic, to say the least.
  2. They’re always “checking in.” It might seem totally novel and actually pretty sweet when you’re actually dating someone who takes the initiative to reach out to you first instead of you doing all the chasing. However, there’s a major difference between staying in touch and “checking in” a little too often. If they seem to have way too much spare time on their hands to be trying to find out what you’re up to every single second of the day, run away now.
  3. They don’t seem to have many friends. You might think this shouldn’t be on the list of red flags and that it has nothing to do with your relationship, but that’s not actually true. When someone is a complete loner, you have to wonder why that is. Yes, it’s possible they’re introverted, that they prefer to keep their social circle small, etc. However, it’s a bit concerning when they have no one else in their lives because it makes it much more likely that they’re going to become overly attached to you (or that there’s a major reason that no one wants to be friends with them).
  4. They expect to be the center of your world. When you’re in a relationship, obviously your partner should be a priority. However, if they want to be the center of your universe at any point, especially when you’ve only just started dating, they need to get a grip and you need to get out. You were a complete person with a full, happy life before you met and that shouldn’t change just because you’re coupled up.
  5. They’re overly jealous. A little jealousy can be cute, but you start entering the territory of major red flags for your relationship if they’re so jealous that you can’t even speak to anyone else without them freaking out. This is not normal behavior. It’s controlling, obsessive, and potentially dangerous. Do not put up with this.
  6. They’re super secretive with their phone. What do they have to hide? It’s not like you’re trying to read the intimate details of their text messages or know the contents of their emails, so why are they always hiding their phone, turning the screen away from you when you’re sitting next to each other, or taking it with them whenever they get up and leave the room, there’s an issue.
  7. They claim all their exes are “crazy.” When it comes to new relationship red flags, this tops the list. Their exes are not all crazy, and if they insist that they were, it’s pretty clear who the real problem here is. You would think that this wouldn’t be a thing anymore, but you’d be very wrong.
  8. The people in your life don’t like them. While you can’t make all your life decisions based on what your friends and family members think, it’s important to note that if all of the people closest to you really don’t like the new person you’re dating, there’s probably a reason for it. Speak to them about it – you might be surprised all the things that they can see that you don’t.
Jennifer Still is a writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience. The managing editor of Bolde, she has bylines in Vanity Fair, Business Insider, The New York Times, Glamour, Bon Appetit, and many more. You can follow her on Twitter @jenniferlstill
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