Pink Flags to Watch Out for in a Growing Shut Relationship
“The purple flags are normally there, you simply need to maintain your eyes open wider than your coronary heart.”— April Mae Monterrosa
“You’ll by no means know the way broken an individual is till you attempt to love them.” — Nameless
Widespread and Perpetual Relationship Pink Flags
Relationship Pink Flag Habits Warning Indicators
Relationship Pink Flag Habits could possibly be Everlasting Habits
20 Pink Flag Habits / Relationship Conclusions
For months (throughout 2019 / 2020) I used to be witness to / and on the receiving finish of essentially the most abusive and delinquent relationship behaviour that I’ve ever skilled in my life. I began residing with my ex-girlfriend in the course of the first Covid-lockdown interval the place her unprovoked abusive behaviour in the direction of me occurred regularly.
I noticed lots of her communication and behavior patterns as potential purple flags early on within the relationship (even earlier than our lockdown), however foolishly ignored most of them. It was solely when her threatening behaviour escalated into bodily assault, violence and perpetual verbal abuse that I realised the seriousness of the state of affairs. It wasn’t a simple choice, however after this realisation (and the truth that her behaviour towards me might deteriorate additional) I took the mandatory motion to withdraw from the poisonous relationship.
From purple flag incidents to critical delinquent behaviour manifestations
I’ll briefly describe twenty of essentially the most profound purple flag incidents that occurred in the course of the course of the connection. This can be adopted by associating the incidents with particular irrational behavioural manifestations / traits – as perceived and recognized by me throughout an roughly nine-month interval.
Pink Flag behaviour / incidents that had the largest impression on me (and the connection):
- She was not often ever on time when she visited my condo. To be greater than an hour late typically isn’t any exaggeration. I phoned her as soon as after she didn’t arrive for greater than three hours – she merely informed me she forgot (and this was whereas she was in my space on enterprise previous to our confirmed appointment).
- I lived like a visitor in her condo. Within the three to 4 months I lived together with her she by no means made me really feel at house and / or provided me any shelf area for my clothes. I modified garments out of my baggage within the lounge (mornings and nights). She by no means mentioned this with me aside from to inform me there is no such thing as a area for many of my belongings.
- She by no means provided to scrub my clothes throughout your entire lockdown interval, however she would do hers as soon as every week. Throughout a 4 month interval I requested her twice – which she then did. The remainder of the time I made different preparations.
- I used to be by no means thanked for something I did or bought. She confirmed no gratitude in any respect. Not for meals, flowers, presents, weekends away and many others. – I used to be by no means thanked for any of my efforts and / or any funds for no matter she / we wanted.
- From very early on within the relationship I used to be requested when are we getting married. I used to be flattered the primary time she requested, however felt uneasy with frequent reminders (as I used to be studying the remainder of her purple flag behaviour).
- A number of months into the connection (as I used to be about to debate my issues about her behaviour) I used to be informed the meals that I bought / cooked for us made her fats. This after she chosen many of the purchasing herself. For this I chased her out of my condo – of which I instantly aplogised the following day. She by no means apologised for her thoughtless remark or behaviour ever.
- She informed me to start with of the connection of a earlier boyfriend taking up in her kitchen. Effectively, after a number of months, she bestowed precisely the identical destiny upon me. This after I tiptoed ‘on egg shells’ in her kitchen (and by no means actually taken any initiative except we have been cooking collectively).
- My textual content messages to her have been recurrently misinterpreted and / or handled with chilly disdain. It was nearly if any written communication / textual content messages have been perceived as detrimental communication (or she had little curiosity studying them in full). Lots of my messages have been left unanswered.
- I used to be by no means trusted with helping her. She would ask for my help with many (monetary) tasks, however when it got here time to help her she would postpone /or simply overlook about it. She was very fast to simply accept any financial help (which I provided via a CFD buying and selling portfolio I created for her). I used to be by no means thanked for any revenue generated or for the next transfers into her checking account.
- She informed me one morning she felt like a second-class citizen residing in her personal condo with me there. A the time I didn’t say something, however I used to be reasonably disillusioned and brought aback by her remark.
- I used to be accused early into the connection that I don’t see / responded to her crying (one night). The extra I apologised (over many weeks) that I didn’t see or heard it, the extra she was of opinion that I used to be mendacity. Enforced gaslighting in my view.
- I used to be threatened together with her chef’s knife (with the phrases – ‘I’ll kill you’) after she misplaced a number of video games of chess towards me one night. The verbal abuse that adopted scared me extra. I used to be shocked to the core – this was the primary incident of a critical risk and verbal abuse, however unfortunatly not the final.
- I used to be bodily assaulted one night for switching off the tv (with out her even watching). I used to be punched, kicked and my shirt ripped from my physique. A big chocolate Easter bunny was bashed over my head whereas I used to be grabbing my baggage to go house. Even then I used to be nonetheless decided to make the connection work. How naïve of me…
- She was verbally abusive on many events. Largely over the phone and it escalated to weekly episodes in the direction of the tip of the connection. It was so dangerous at occasions that I needed to change my telephone off.
- She by no means apologized for something. She even despatched me a follow-up message to remind me that I deserved to be assaulted by her – referring to the bodily assault and Easter bunny incident. No regret or compassion have been ever proven in the direction of me.
- I’ve by no means met a extra obtuse racist in my life. For sure that I’ve by no means witnessed bigotry of this nature from anybody in any private, social or enterprise relationship earlier than. I used to be involved together with her blatant racist title calling and belittling (of anybody from a special race) from very early within the relationship.
- Her frequent (and vulgar) swearing made me cringe at occasions. She would swear at her mom (over the telephone) when she didn’t get her method. It didn’t take her very lengthy to have interaction with me in precisely the identical tone of verbal abuse (and swearing) as she did in the direction of her mom.
- Requested me to cover (or depart) for 3 hours when a male buddy was about to go to her one weekend. I used to be very upset about this. Aside from her mom and brothers (and one buddy) she didn’t introduce me to anyone else in her life – not even to certainly one of her workers after we visited her clothes boutique one afternoon.
- Every now and then I did nor reply to her threatening textual content messages and she or he phoned my sister to tell her in no unsure phrases that she desires to kill me. My sister put the telephone down after getting verbally abused by her, however phoned her again some time later to have interaction in a standard dialogue.
- Dangerous-mouthing of a earlier boyfriend over and over. At first of the connection I believed her, now I do know he will need to have gone via the identical patterns / purple flags as me. In the present day I’m in all probability as dangerous a statistic as him (and presumably others) when measured towards her greater than probably psychopathological mindset.
Traditional Delinquent Behaviour Traits recognized from my Pink Flag checklist:
Callousness 𐐭 Controlling Nature 𐐭 Disrespectful
Emotionally Unavailable 𐐭 Extreme Swearing
False Sense of Entitlement 𐐭 Grandiose Delusions
Thoughtless Habits 𐐭 Lack of Belief 𐐭 Poor Confidence
Lack of Hospitality 𐐭 Lack of Self-Consciousness 𐐭 Unequal Effort
No Empathy 𐐭 No Compassion 𐐭 No Gratitude
No Regret 𐐭 Bodily Assault 𐐭 Poor Communication
Poor Choice-Making 𐐭 Poor Monetary Planning
Power Lateness 𐐭 Racism 𐐭 Rage 𐐭 Gaslighting
Destructive Rating Retaining 𐐭 Self-Centered 𐐭 Emotional Projection
Selfishness 𐐭 Verbal Abusive 𐐭 Home Violence
Self-Absorbed 𐐭 False Sense of Self (Atmosphere)
Hare Psychopathy Guidelines Correlation
My ‘Delinquent Behavioural Listing’ isn’t essentially aligned with the comparatively well-known ‘Hare Psychopathy Guidelines’ developed by Dr. Robert Hare. The ‘purple flag’ traits as described by me the place skilled from an intermittent behavioural perspective that manifested a particular pervasive sample over time. The ‘Delinquent Behaviour Traits’ as skilled by me correlates considerably with a few of Hare’s psychopathy behaviour descriptions. Nevertheless, there are numerous delinquent behavioural standards described by Hare that had no affiliation throughout my very own ‘purple flag’ behavioural observations and / or private conclusions (from an delinquent and contentious companion).
Relationship Delinquent Habits Manifestations
DSM-5-TR Delinquent Habits Standards
What made me actually suppose (after the connection) from a extra up to date analysis perspective and / or potential origin of many ‘common relationship purple flags’ are the varied well-defined delinquent behaviour signs as revealed by the American Psychiatric Affiliation within the present Diagnostic and Statistical Guide of Psychological Issues (DSM), the DSM-5-TR (2020). Learn extra concerning the (diagnostic) standards with regards to delinquent behaviour as revealed in a DSM-referenced article by the NIH / Nationwide Library of Drugs (Kristy A. Fisher; Tyler J. Torrico; Manassa Hany. U.S. Feb. 2024). There could also be numerous causes for somebody displaying ‘purple flags’ at the beginning or throughout a (private) relationship, however it’s price taking a look on the above NIH article in gaining a extra coherent understanding of delinquent behaviour that would (additionally) be skilled as ‘relationship purple flags’.
Regardless of the waving purple flags…
Distorted sense of self
She didn’t see something improper from her facet of the connection. She stored on lecturing me / reminding me ever so typically about all of the so-called issues I did improper – to the extent that I requested her if she stored an Excel spreadsheet for scoring / updating my (poor) behaviour and judgements. An essential word right here is that her ‘lecturing’ all the time occurred after I wished to debate the state of the connection. In the direction of the tip she gave me one alternative for discussing the connection with out interrupting me – and that was the unlucky second I realised that ‘the lights have been on, however no-one’s house’.
Delinquent behaviour concern
Certainly one of my main issues was her relentless lack of empathy, gratitude, guilt and regret in the course of the relationship. The rising consciousness of those continual rudimental behaviour deficiencies manifested to such an lengthen inside me that I began questioning my very own sanity to ever ‘stay as much as her requirements and / or perfectionism‘. It was solely settled inside me after I took a step again and rationally assessed her general behavioral disposition by myself / and with the steerage of certainly one of my skilled psychological well being / life coach associates. My buddy’s honesty stung at first, nevertheless it was precisely the target re-assurance I wanted to listen to that I’m concerned in a (codependent) relationship with somebody displaying frequent narcissistic and delinquent behaviour tendencies.
‘Justification’ for abusive behaviour
In the direction of the tip of the connection I acquired a textual content message to let me know that I deserved to be attacked by her – referring to the insident the place she hit me over the pinnacle. In all probability her personal callous ‘justification’ that she did the suitable factor. I didn’t reply. Some time later I acquired a second message inviting me to have lunch together with her the next day. I responded greater than 24 hours later to let her know that because of her first message lunch would by no means have been an possibility. This was maybe the ultimate straw that broke the camel’s again. It was the primary time that I enforced a boundary for not accepting an invite and / or assembly together with her.
Reflecting on the troublesome relationship
In hindsight it’s straightforward to say I might have dealt with the connection / her Jekyll and Hyde behaviour in the direction of me in another way. I want I might, however on the time issues have been transferring so shortly and for what it is price I had among the finest occasions of my life as effectively together with her. Reflecting on the connection purple flags / different disparities I’ve recognized my very own interpersonal relationship challenges with regard to my cognitive dissonance and my relationship codependency shortcomings. Working in the direction of a more healthy interpersonal and relationship boundary framework is certainly one of my first behavioral objectives for making a extra assured strategy in the direction of different / future relationships.
© Vernon Chalmers : Psychological Well being and Existential Motivation (20 Relationship Pink Flags)
“Vernon Chalmers has written extensively about relationship purple flags on his “Psychological Well being and Motivation” web site. He shares his private experiences and insights to assist others acknowledge and tackle these warning indicators early on.
In his article titled “20 Relationship Pink Flags Sadly Ignored for Months,” he outlines a number of key purple flags, together with:
- Lack of Gratitude: He seen that his companion not often thanked him for something he did or bought, which was a big purple flag.
- Inconsistent Habits: His companion was typically late for appointments and typically forgot about them solely.
- Lack of Consideration: Throughout the time he lived along with his companion, she by no means made him really feel at house or provided him area for his belongings.
- Unprovoked Abusive Habits: He skilled common unprovoked abusive conduct, which escalated to bodily assault and perpetual verbal abuse 1.
Chalmers emphasizes the significance of not ignoring these purple flags, as they’ll point out deeper points within the relationship. Recognizing and addressing these indicators early will help forestall additional emotional and bodily hurt.” (Supply: Microsoft Copilot 2024)
Figuring out Pink Flags in a Relationship (usually inside the first few weeks / months)
“Figuring out purple flags in a relationship is essential for sustaining a wholesome and fulfilling partnership.
Listed below are some frequent purple flags to pay attention to:
- Controlling Habits: In case your companion tries to regulate who you see, what you do, or the way you spend your time, it may be an indication of deeper points.
- Lack of Respect: Disrespect can manifest in some ways, equivalent to belittling feedback, ignoring boundaries, or dismissing your emotions.
- Dishonesty: Frequent mendacity or hiding issues from you may erode belief and create a poisonous surroundings.
- Emotional or Bodily Abuse: Any type of abuse, whether or not emotional, bodily, or psychological, is a significant purple flag and shouldn’t be tolerated.
- Love Bombing: Over-the-top gestures and extreme consideration early within the relationship can typically be a tactic to govern and management in a while .
- Lack of Communication: Poor communication can result in misunderstandings and unresolved conflicts, which may pressure the connection.
- Jealousy and Possessiveness: Whereas some jealousy is regular, extreme jealousy and possessiveness can point out insecurity and result in controlling conduct.
- Substance Abuse: Points with medication or alcohol can considerably impression the well being and stability of a relationship.
Should you discover any of those indicators, it’s essential to handle them early on.” (Supply: Microsoft Copilot)



