We grew up watching romantic movies where the couple screams in the rain, breaks up, and then kisses passionately to make up. Consequently, we were programmed to believe that volatility equals love. When a relationship feels calm, we worry it is boring. When it feels chaotic, we tell ourselves it is just intense “passion.”
However, that roller coaster isn’t chemistry; often, it is dysfunction disguised as romance. Mistaking anxiety for butterflies keeps you trapped in cycles that drain your energy and self-worth. If you find yourself justifying bad behavior as “just how much we love each other,” you need to look closer. Here are seven toxic traits that are actually major red flags.
