"Red Flags in Romance: When Love Feels Like a Roller Coaster"

Ah, new love. It's like a magical drug, giving us that exhilarating high, especially in the beginning. But with all those powerful emotions swirling around, your judgment can get pretty clouded. So how can you tell if your partner is truly a good match for you? Well, researchers and therapists have pinpointed a few red flags you should keep an eye out for in a relationship.

Beware of women who not only call themselves drama queens but actually revel in the role. Drama queens swing from one emotional extreme to another. If things seem a little too calm, they'll stir up controversy just to keep things interesting. Picture this: "Are you serious right now? We were just checking out that girl. I saw you!" It’s exhausting and destabilizing.

Trust is the cornerstone of any healthy relationship, and it's hard to build that trust if your partner is constantly flaking out on you. Watch how she follows through on her commitments. Imagine hearing, "Don't you gotta go to work?" only to get the response, "No, I'm not going. To be honest, I've wanted to quit since I started." "But today's your first day!" "Exactly." It’s not a great sign.

You can learn a lot about a person by how they treat strangers, especially those in service roles. A small but telling moment might be at a restaurant: "Hey, my butter! The service here is terrible." When the waiter comes to take the order, she snaps, "I'm sorry you're out here trying to act. Why don't you act like a waiter?" No smile, no tip. It speaks volumes about her character.

As the relationship deepens, watch how she interacts with her family. Patterns from those relationships often spill over into yours. Picture this scene: "Mama, seriously? Gosh, not right now. Can you believe her? She'll understand." It’s revealing when someone shows their true colors.

Be on the lookout for a partner with a sense of entitlement, expecting their needs to always come first. Imagine her saying, "So I made you a list for my birthday to make sure I get what I want. That way, neither of us is wasting our time." You look at the list, "This is a long list, and you know I work at Chick-fil-A." The entitlement can be overwhelming.

It's possible every guy she's dated was a jerk, but more likely, she's downplaying her role in those failed relationships. She might say, "First, there was Johnny who never took me out on dates. Then Dan, who was a psycho. Michael thought he was God's gift to the world. Have you had any successful relationships?" "Uh, no." It’s a pattern of blaming others.

Flexibility is crucial for relationship success. If she's never willing to compromise, there could be trouble ahead. Imagine this scenario: "Pride and Prejudice is sold out. The next three shows too." She responds, "It's okay, there’s an action film I wanted to see." You offer, but she retorts, "Really? I just don’t feel like doing anything. Sorry." It’s frustrating.

Spending time with friends is important, and if she doesn't understand this, it could be a problem. Picture this: "I'm heading out to meet the guys." "What's wrong?" "Nothing. I just didn't know where your priorities stood. It's cool." It’s isolating.

Conflict is normal, but constant arguing isn't. "You were gone for an hour!" she snaps. You try to clarify, "Sorry, 53 minutes. I have a job, you know." "A job? So you’re not committed to me?" It’s exhausting.

If you can't stand her friends, it might be a bad sign. Imagine dealing with her friends’ drama: "Laundry, laundry, Snapchat me." It’s draining.

Domestic violence can go both ways. If she gets violent when you argue, it's a big red flag. Her punches may not hurt, but the behavior is concerning.

You need to be on the same page with values and life goals. "I'm Wiccan and an only child. I look forward to having a big family." "I thought you were kidding. So you don't want kids?" "No." It’s a fundamental clash.

Feelings of appreciation keep relationships strong. If she rarely acknowledges the nice things you do, it can lead to resentment. "Finally, I can do that myself, thank you."

Taking responsibility for bad behavior is key. "Okay, I'm sorry." "Thank you."

Recognizing these red flags can save you from heartache. It’s crucial to find a partner who shares your values and respects you. After all, the goal is a healthy, happy relationship, not a dramatic roller coaster ride.