05/24/2026
If you find yourself stuck in cycle of dating toxic partners, keep these common red flags below in mind and be honest when evaluating the dynamic between you and your date.
Remember, one occurrence of a red flag doesn't necessarily mean your partner is toxic - the key is to look for patterns of behavior.
Reflect honestly on your date's behavior and how it makes you feel. The beginning of a relationship is typically where we experience the best of the other person. If the early stages already have frequent negative interactions, it may be best to move on.
1. Double standards. They apply certain rules and beliefs to you but not to themselves. This can look like not allowing you to text or interact with people of the opposite gender, but they do. Or guilt tripping you for canceling plans, but allowing themselves to cancel on you.
2. Criticizing constantly. They criticize you for everything - even small things. From the outfit you choose, the way you order a meal, how you chop a vegetable, etc. Feeling like you're walking on eggshells or you can't do or say anything right won't allow you both to build a healthy relationship. Pay attention to how critical they are of others as well.
3. Minimizing or dismissing. They can't seem to understand or empathize with your perspective, no matter how you explain what you are experiencing. They may also dismiss, minimize, or ridicule your feelings, leaving you feeling uncomfortable with sharing your thoughts.
4. Controlling behavior. This can look like:
- isolating you from friends and family
- making acceptance, attraction, or caring towards you conditional
- keeping score of everything they do for you or you do for them
- holding favors or gifts against you
- not respecting your time alone
- overactive jealousy, along with accusations or paranoia
5. Not taking responsibility. Everyone and everything but themselves are responsible for their misfortunes. Mean and crazy people seem to constantly come into their lives and mess things up for them.
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