It's Time to Change the Path

I understand but I feel trapped and helpless...

I can't bear the pain but I choose to hold on to it...

I lose a part of myself but I conceal it under a discontent smile...

I feel miserable but I pretend ''everything is okay''...

This is the situation of a person who has all the strings attached to a toxic connection. This person is prey to their partner's manipulation. The person who is genuine in the connection feels drained physically, mentally, and emotionally because every part of that person's heart, mind, soul; emotions, and feelings get invested in the bond having no equal returns. What are those possible warning signs that shall not be overlooked? Let's meet up with those signs one by one.  

• One-Man Show - There is a one-sided contribution of efforts without equal give and take. Only one partner fulfils the duties and responsibilities. 

• Over-Dependency - Partner is over-dependent on another partner mentally and emotionally. There is a delegation of tasks to one partner and another partner acts like a sleeping or dormant companion. 

• Identity Crisis - There is toxic co-dependency due to one partner's zero self-awareness and this partner expects another partner to instruct, initiate and lead everything. 

• Immature Approach- Partner uses disrespectful language, conversations, and actions without valuing the other partner's views, opinions, feelings, and emotions. 

• Temporary Breaks - Partner gives impractical excuses by playing a game of on-and-off relationships. 

• Mind Games - Partner manipulates to do something or blackmails for getting things done. It could be the severe scenarios of ghosting, stalking, and gaslighting. 

• Comparison Trap- Partner compares the look, nature, potential, calibre, and capacity of another partner with someone else. 

• Devaluing Presence - Partner bogs down the other partner's dreams, goals, aspirations, wishes, and desires. 

• Hampered Liberty - The moves, actions, decisions, and choices are controlled by one partner. Partner dominates another partner by forcing their views and opinions.

• No Privacy - Partner invades privacy and space in the name of distrust or possessiveness. 

• Past Story - Partner brings out previous relationship topics in verbal fights to put all the blame on the other partner.

• Foggy Mind - Partner has no clear idea about the future of the relationship. 

• Doubts Fallacy - Partner is suspicious over small things of a companion. 

• Hide and Seek - Partner maintains secrecy of everything and uses unclear communication to conceal certain facts. 

• Behavioral Changes - There is denial or avoidance of confrontations over important matters by the partner. 

• Unhealthy Boundaries - Partner doesn't obey the healthy boundaries set in the union. 

• Words over Actions - Partner only says the things than actually taking action. ''Keeping the words'' is not the policy of the partner.

• Values and Principles - Partner lacks an understanding of ethical and moral values. 

• Lack of Transparency - The partner hides relationship status from the family or shows no eagerness to introduce you to their family members or the partner is disinterested in meeting your family for conversations and interactions about the future of you two. 

• Daunting Abuse - Partner uses abusive language and acts of domestic violence.

• Targeted Coercion - Partner forces to do some acts without prior approval, mutual consent, and will of another partner. 

• Frequent Lies - Partner avoids face-to-face direct contact, and always opts for indirect sources of communication like emails, voice mails, letters, and chats for the ease of lying. Partner shares fake profiles and information by hyping things. 

• Lack of Interest - Partner doesn't show interest in deciding anything about your bond's future. 

• Lack of Coordination - Partner's promises and actions are not in sync. There is a lack of synergy among the decisions and choices that are made in the relationship. 

• Needs Focus - When a partner has the intent to be in a relationship just for the sake of physical needs. 

• Terms and Conditions - Partner has put forward terms and conditions to continue the relationship. 

• Thin Line - Partner doesn't understand the thin line between possessiveness and obsession. Partner's over-possessive and over-obsessive nature is restricting and suffocating the other partner. 

• Lack of Understanding - When the level of understanding is not in tandem between you and your partner. Understanding each other is kind of a juggling task every time without ending up on the same page. 

• Third-Party - Partner shows signs of having an interest in someone else but denying to accept third-party interest. 

• Junkies Discovery - When there are undeniable clues of dishonesty, deceptive behavior, undue advantage, and betrayal by the partner. 

People change due to variables, situations, circumstances, and dynamics but the purest bond surpasses all the negativity that could have been there in the bond. Equip yourself to be a whistle-blower who recognizes the potential relationship threats and frauds well in advance. Awareness, vigilance, and suitable actions will turn out to be the best guide in choosing "the right one" for you. Sensing the alerts; fetching your gut feelings; ending the toxic loop that goes roundabout; walking away from the person who drained your aura will protect your love, compassion, and attention for someone better. Dare to change the track for a better journey with a deserving tie-up and if you think that you reflect some of these deteriorating traits in the relationship then self-improvement is the first baby step to save your saintly accord. Make your move by taking your call wisely because your inner voices, gut feelings, and intuitions can never go wrong!