The 7 Signs -
1. Things Move Too Fast, Too Soon – The relationship escalates quickly, often with love bombing and rapid intimacy, creating an intense but unstable connection.
2. They Demean Your Sexual Performance – Instead of constructive communication, they criticize and insult your abilities to lower your self-esteem and maintain control.
3. You Have a Decreased Sex Drive – Anxiety and fear of judgment replace excitement, making intimacy stressful instead of enjoyable.
4. Your Self-Worth Depends on Their Approval – Your confidence fluctuates based on their validation, creating an addiction to their unpredictable affection (intermittent reinforcement).
5. They Use Sex as a Reward and Punishment – Sex becomes a tool for manipulation, given when you please them and withheld when they want to punish you.
6. You Use Sex to Solve Problems – Sex is used to avoid addressing real relationship issues, creating a false sense of intimacy instead of healthy communication.
7. You Ignore Their Red Flags – Despite recognizing toxic patterns, you rationalize their behavior, hold onto false hope, and struggle to break free from the bond.