Recognizing the signs of a one-sided relationship is easy. Just observe your feelings, your partner’s actions, and their body language.
Here are top 9 telltale signs you’re in a one-sided relationship:
1. You Don’t Share or Discuss Any Goals
Are you two on the same page when it comes to your future? Do you want to get married, live together, or have kids? Does your partner actually want any of these things?
Sometimes, a one-sided relationship forms when two people start to form different goals.
It’s okay to drift apart and start to prioritize different things, but you also shouldn’t stay in a relationship in which you no longer have anything in common with the other person.
2. You’re putting in more effort than your partner
In a successful relationship, both partners are responsible and accountable to each other.
They are also committed to building their relationship and keeping the love alive.
As a couple, they may choose to speak each other’s love language, show genuine affection, and even go on romantic dates often to maintain their bond.
In an unbalanced relationship, however, one partner is usually left to do the heavy lifting and keep the relationship alive.
If you’re the only one initiating contact, making phone calls, sending love messages, and planning date nights, that’s a huge red flag.
3. Your partner never sacrifices or makes compromises for you
You make a lot of sacrifices for your partner but they rarely notice and hardly ever reciprocate the kind gesture.
They don’t care about your emotional well-being, mental state, or physical health as they’re immensely focused on looking out for themselves and having their way all the time.
If your partner doesn’t make room for compromise, negotiation, or sacrifice in your relationship, that’s not a good sign.
A relationship where one person is giving their all to make it work while the other partner is disinterested in putting much effort is a toxic one.
4. You constantly feel undervalued and unappreciated
If you feel used and taken advantage of by your partner, you should know that it is a result of the imbalance in your relationship
No matter what you do for them, they’re never grateful or appreciative of your efforts because they feel entitled to your love and devotion.
When you mean a lot to someone, they’ll value you and be afraid of losing you, which makes them treat you nicely.
Your partner should never leave you guessing about their feelings for you and they shouldn’t maltreat you when you’re doing everything possible to keep them happy.
If you feel undervalued and unappreciated in your romantic relationship, this is a red flag.
5. They Choose Their Friends Over You
Do you always come second to your partner’s friends? Do they go out regularly without ever inviting you along?
Everyone needs time to recharge with their friends. But, if your partner never seems to want you around when they are with others, you should be concerned. This is especially true if you ever get accused of “nagging” when you ask why an invitation is never extended to you.
It is okay to not do everything together and have time independently, though, if your partner is not willing to integrate your lives in some way, you may be experiencing a one-sided relationship.
6. You are Constantly Justifying Their Actions
If you’re always justifying your partner’s actions, you might be in a one-sided relationship.
Everyone has bad days, but if your partner has more bad days than good ones, and you catch yourself creating excuses before anything has even gone wrong, you may need to take a closer look at your situation.
7. You’re Always Stressed Out
Are you always worrying about your relationship and what your partner is doing? Are you desperately trying to show him or her that you love them while also bending over backward to make sure you’re not annoying them?
This constant guessing game is most likely wreaking havoc on your mental health. You probably feel anxious, depressed, and emotionally exhausted most—if not all—of the time. A romantic relationship should make you feel happy. It shouldn’t have you constantly feeling like you are on the brink of a nervous breakdown.
If you are with someone who makes you feel insecure and anxious, you either need to address the issues head-on or end the relationship. Your own health and well-being are too important.
8. You desperately want your partner to try harder
Most people in a healthy relationship don’t really care about changing their partner because they are comfortable with the way things are.
Of course, there’s always room for improvement in any area of life but when you’re with the right person, a change of attitude doesn’t really concern you.
If it would mean a lot to you if your partner took your love life more seriously, that’s a sign you’re in a one-sided relationship.
9. They Ignore Your Concerns
Maybe your partner doesn’t openly criticize you or downplay your concerns. However, do they stay silent when you try to talk about issues you’re noticing in the relationship?
A relationship requires working as a team to communicate when there are conflicts. If your significant other ignores you when you try to express a concern, they are making it clear that they are not as invested in the relationship as you are.
