Entering into a new relationship with a woman can be like walking through a minefield for us guys.
We all crave relationship bliss, hoping for a woman who won’t bring us problems or cause us pain. Sadly, some of us end up in that exact situation.
Sometimes, the problems are our fault, but often, we’re just clueless about them. It’s vital to spot these red flags early on because they can indicate if the relationship is heading south.
So, in this article, I’m going to lay out the signs that your new relationship might be on rocky ground and give you some tips on how to spot them. [Read – 25 Signs Your Girlfriend Might be Emotionally Unavailable and What to do About it]
1. She love bombs you
Yeah, you read that right. Love bombing can become a problem in a relationship. I get that honeymoon stage, where you and your significant other would always be smothering each other with love and affection with every passing minute, and it’s normal.
But once things start to move too fast, faster than anticipated, then there’s a problem; that’s a red flag.
Those showers of affection and declarations of love are often tactics they use to quickly create dependence and control in a new relationship.
2. She’s possessive and jealous
Did she roll with a clique before you asked her out? Or maybe she was a total socialite, always out and about, but once you two started dating, you noticed her world started to revolve around just the two of you.
Now, that’s usually a good thing, right? I mean, who wouldn’t want their woman to make them her world?
But here’s the kicker: if her world shrinks to just the two of you, and her grip on you tightens, that’s where things get dicey.
You might start feeling like she’s isolating you, like you’re responsible for all her insecurities. When she pulls this kind of move, she’s being possessive, and trust me, that’s a major red flag.
When a woman gets possessive in a relationship, you can bet jealousy isn’t far behind. It’s like they come together as a package deal. And once you notice your girlfriend’s possessiveness over you, get ready for a whole lot of jealousy.
Her jealousy isn’t just going to stop at your interactions with friends and family. Oh no, it’ll spread like wildfire.
You won’t even be able to check your phone in peace. Every ding or ring from a text would be immediately followed by a big ol’ dose of jealousy from her.
If you’re dealing with this in a new relationship, consider it a major red flag. It’s a clear sign she’s on the controlling side of things, and that’s not cool.
3. She lacks respect for boundaries
You know what’s key when starting a relationship? Boundaries. Setting those lines in the sand can really keep things on track and make the whole journey a whole lot smoother.
And if you notice those boundaries starting to blur pretty quickly after you’ve started dating someone new, well, that’s a big red flag.
Your new girlfriend should respect your comfort zone, plain and simple. If she’s pressuring you into stuff you’re not cool with or totally ignoring your need for some alone time, that’s not a good sign.
4. She’s always negative
Before you asked her to be your girlfriend, she was all sunshine and rainbow. You know, always smiling, forever positive, just a beacon of good vibes.
But once you two become an item and those sunny days start turning into stormy clouds, well, that’s a major red flag for a toxic relationship ahead.
Suddenly, everything becomes a complaint or drama. The constant negativity is like a vampire sucking the life out of you.
And guess what? You’ll start feeling like you’re responsible for her happiness, which is a heavy burden to bear.
Sure, change is part of life, but her changing shouldn’t come at the cost of your own happiness. It’s a tough truth to swallow, but you deserve to be with someone who lifts you up, not brings you down. [Read – How to Deal with a Clingy Girlfriend who Texts you all the Time]
5. She lies and deceives you
You know you’re headed down a toxic path with your new girlfriend when lies and deceit become the building blocks of your relationship. It’s like the foundation starts crumbling beneath you.
Suddenly, she’s spinning lies about everything: where she’s been, who she’s with, what she’s up to.
Now, I’m not saying you should jump to conclusions, but honesty is the glue that holds any relationship together.
And when those lies start piling up, even about the littlest things, trust takes a nosedive and suspicions would start creeping in like an unwelcome guest.
6. She’s dismissive of your feelings
When your girlfriend starts brushing off your concerns like they don’t even matter. Meanwhile, her needs are front and center, taking up all the space. Well, that’s a glaring red flag for a toxic relationship ahead.
As a boyfriend, our voice should be heard in your relationship, especially if you’re the one who made the first move.
Your feelings count. It’s all about respect and balance. If she’s drowning out your voice, it’s time for a serious chat about what’s going on.
7. She Isolates you from friends and family
Does your woman gives you grief about hanging out with your loved ones? Like, friends and family? If she’s pulling that move, buddy, that’s a major red flag in a new relationship.
You try to make plans with your crew, and suddenly, she’s throwing out excuses left and right to make you think twice. And if you still go, brace yourself for the attitude and accusations when you get back. Like, she’ll act like you’ve betrayed her or something.
Isolation is a tactic that’s straight out of the abuser’s playbook. It’s all about control and manipulation, and you don’t need that kind of drama in your life.
8. She’s manipulative
If your new relationship is just one drama after another, consider it a flashing red warning sign.
You’d notice she’s pulling out all the stops: guilt trips, emotional blackmail, even playing the victim card whenever she can, just to get you to dance to her tune.
A healthy relationship should lift you up, not tie you down. It’s about empowerment, not control. So, if you’re feeling like you’re constantly walking on eggshells, it might be time to reassess things.
9. She carries baggage from past relationships
If your new woman can’t seem to stop talking about her ex, whether it’s her most recent ex or any of them from the past, and she’s always comparing you to them or using her past relationships to justify her actions, well, that’s a major warning sign that your relationship could turn toxic.
Look, we’ve all got exes, and sure, we might carry some baggage from past relationships. But when you’re starting fresh with someone new, you’re supposed to leave all that stuff behind, you know?
Here’s a tip I always give people: before diving into a relationship, ask her straight up if she’s still hung up on her past relationships. Because if she is, trust me, it’s a recipe for disaster in your relationship with her. [Read – 17 Things You Should Never Talk to Your Girlfriend About]
10. She uses your for money
Now, I’m not saying you should disregard her needs completely. I mean, you’re in a partnership, and there are some of her needs you’ve gotta have to cater for.
Some guys totally overlook this, but when you start seeing her treat your wallet like it’s her own personal piggy bank, and she’s more fixated on your money than on building a real connection, that’s a major red flag.
11. She does drugs
Look, only someone into drugs themselves would be cool with dating a woman who’s into them. And I know you’re a responsible guy, so there’s absolutely no way you should ever be okay with being in a relationship with a woman who does drugs.
Whether you’ve just started dating or you’ve been together a while, it’s a no-go zone.
But hold up, finding out she’s into drugs doesn’t automatically mean you should hit the eject button on the relationship. You’ve gotta take a step back and really understand the situation.
Maybe she wasn’t into drugs before, and something changed. In that case, you can try to help her change her behavior.
But if you’ve given it your all and she’s not budging, or if she’s deep into it with no sign of turning back, it might be time to carefully walk away from the relationship.
Don’t ignore the signs of addiction or force yourself to enable unhealthy habits in a relationship. You deserve better than that.
12. She disrespects your values and beliefs
In a new relationship, if you’re constantly butting heads with your girlfriend over your beliefs, that’s a big ol’ warning sign. But don’t go blazing at her yet. Who knows, you might just be the problem.
You don’t expect a reasonable woman to be comfortable being with someone who does voodoo or doesn’t wear underwear or always licks his door knobs on a way out for good luck for example.
But if what you’re into isn’t that extreme and she’s still giving you grief about it, that’s a major red flag waving in your face. Relationships are all about respecting each other’s quirks and finding common ground, not constantly clashing over every little thing.
13. She’s disloyal
In a new relationship, a significant warning sign is when you start noticing behaviors that suggest she might cheat in the future, even if she hasn’t done so yet.
For example, if you pose a hypothetical question to your new girlfriend, asking if you gave her a guilt free pass to cheat on you with anyone in the world, and she responds affirmatively, that’s a major red flag.
14. She’s jealous of your successes
Another warning sign in a new relationship is when your new girlfriend constantly feels threatened by your life successes.
She may diminish your achievements by ignoring them entirely or by highlighting her own accomplishments to overshadow yours, as if your successes hold zero importance. [Read – 12 Ways to Stop being a Boyfriend who is Mean When Angry]
15. She doesn’t take responsibility for her actions
When you’re in a relationship with a woman who refuses to take responsibility for her actions, constantly blaming others for her misfortunes or refusing to apologize for mistakes, it’s certainly a red flag.
The truth is, everyone makes mistakes, and it’s important to take ownership of one’s actions, regardless of how difficult it may be.
16. She has unrealistic expectations
You know, having unrealistic expectations about the relationship or your partner can really set you up for a lot of disappointment and feeling let down.
I mean, maybe you’re not seeing this relationship as something super serious right now, but she’s already thinking about marriage.
That’s a big red flag waving right there. It’s so important for both of you to just be upfront and honest about what you want and expect right from the start.
That way, you can build a solid foundation for your relationship without any surprises or misunderstandings later on.
17. She doesn’t communicate effectively
Are you finding it hard to just have those open, honest chats with your new girlfriend about, well, anything and everything?
And do you feel like every time you try to communicate, it just gets lost in translation or totally misunderstood?
If this sounds like what you’re going through in your new relationship, it’s definitely a red flag.
You know, struggling to communicate effectively can really put a damper on things and even turn your relationship toxic. It’s so important to be able to talk openly and understand each other in a relationship.
18. She makes you feel bad about yourself
Having a girlfriend who’s always putting you down, criticizing your choices, or making you feel insecure about yourself is definitely a red flag.
You know, some guys end up in this situation and put up with it because they’re blindly in love, but personally, I could never tolerate being with someone who constantly makes me feel bad about myself.
As a man, you’re supposed to have a partner who lifts you up and makes you feel good about yourself. It really affects your productivity and achievements in life when you’re in a relationship like that.
10 ways to spot these red flags in a new relationship
1. Pay attention to gut feelings
You know those moments when you just have this gut feeling that something’s off? Yeah, we’ve all been there. And sometimes we brush it aside, maybe because we’re getting something out of the situation or we feel like we deserve it.
But, sometimes we have to lift that invisible veil and really face the situation head-on, see it for what it truly is. Trusting your gut can really lead to some real clarity.
2. Observe her relationship with boundaries
One of the best ways to catch those red flags is by looking at how she handles boundaries. Take a good look: Does she respect your personal space, your time, and your privacy? Or does she push you into doing things you’re not comfortable with? If she does, that’s your clue.
3. Be present in the moment
As you dive into a new relationship, it’s crucial not to get swept away by that initial infatuation wave. Take your time, seriously! Watch how she acts when she’s happy, when she’s sad, when she’s angry.
Check if her behavior lines up with what you value and expect in a healthy relationship. It’s all about staying grounded and really understanding what you’re getting into.
4. Talk to trusted friends and family
Relationships can get pretty complicated and they say two heads are better than one. So, it’s not a bad idea to open up and share your observations and concerns with people who really know you well.
They can help you look at the situation from different angles and give you some objective feedback based on their own experiences and viewpoints. It’s like having your own personal sounding board. [Read – How to Give Your Girlfriend Space Without Losing Her]
5. Do your research
You know, it’s not a bad idea to do a little recon on a woman you’re getting into a relationship with or even someone you’re already involved with.
But hey, you gotta make sure you do it right so it doesn’t backfire on you.
In fact, it can be really helpful because, let’s say, if you suspect she might have some substance abuse issues or if she’s carrying baggage from past relationships, gathering info from trusted sources can give you a clearer picture of what you’re dealing with.
It can help you understand the situation better and figure out if it’s something you’re ready to handle.
Conclusion
Spotting those red flags in a new relationship with a woman isn’t rocket science, unless you’re intentionally ignoring them because you’re head over heels for her.
Truth is, those signs are pretty clear if you’re willing to see them.
Some folks find themselves in that spot and choose to look the other way, maybe because they finally found a girlfriend after a bunch of failed attempts, and they’re scared to lose her.
But you gotta prioritize yourself in any situation or relationship. Make sure your well-being comes first and don’t settle for a relationship that makes you feel crummy about yourself or goes against your values.
You deserve better than that gee.
