6 Subtle Signs Your S.O. Brings Out the Worst in You

The ultimate goal of relationships should always be to bring out the best in one another.

Unfortunately, that isn't always the case. Some partnerships cause anxiety and stress, making it difficult for you to be the best version of yourself.

But how do you know if your S.O. is the problem, or if other everyday stressors are affecting your mood and actions? Keep scrolling for six subtle signs your partner is bringing out the worst in you.

You Fight Dirty

Arguments are a normal part of relationships, but how you argue can say a lot about the overall health of your romance. Fighting is okay, but disagreements that resort to name-calling, unfounded accusations or any other behavior that stops effective communication isn't okay. If you find that you can't help but fight dirty with your S.O., even when you know better, the problem may lie in your compatibility with your partner that's causing you to resort to the worst parts of yourself in order to feel heard.

(Grey's Anatomy via ABC)

 

You Can't Explain Your Actions

We all mess up from time to time. Mistakes are a normal part of being in a relationship, which is why you need a partner who can understand your flaws and be patient enough to work on changing those little imperfections. However, if you find that you're acting out of character and can't really explain why, the problem may be your partner. You know who you are, so if you're constantly behaving in a way that feels totally nonsensical, your partner may be a trigger for you. Some people aren't a good match, and their behavior may bring out some of your less-appealing qualities without you even realizing it.

 

You're Overly Sensitive to Their Moods

Partners who bring out the worst in one another often go through many ups and downs in their relationships. There will be a few days of total bliss, followed by a huge blow-up fight that leaves you both feeling devastated. While your interactions may ebb and flow, one thing that stays constant is your hyper-sensitivity to your partner's moods. This can take two forms: either walking on eggshells so you don't upset them, or blowing up over the most insignificant of problems. Either way, being overly reactive to your partner's every move isn't a sign of healthy relationship. Not only does it create problems between you and your S.O., it can also expose some very frustrating behaviors within yourself.

(To All the Boys I've Loved Before via Netflix)

 

It Changes Your Other Relationships

Dating someone naturally changes your social interactions. You have to commit time to your S.O. that would often be used for friends and family, which is completely normal. However, having an S.O. shouldn't change the structure of all your other relationships. If you find that your friendships or your familial relationships are suffering since you started dating your partner, it's not a good sign. Most times, people outside our romances can see things that we might be blind to. If your other relationships are inexplicably becoming more difficult, it could be due to the fact that your S.O. is bringing out a frustrating side of your personality.

 

They Encourage Bad Habits

Although it sounds like an obvious sign that your partner brings out the worst in you, a relationship that encourages your bad habits can actually be more nuanced than you think. Perhaps you struggle to finish your homework—a fact your partner is well aware of. But instead of encouraging you to get it done, they're constantly asking you to hang out on busy weeknights. It probably won't make much of a difference the first few times, but after a while, the subtle encouragement of your bad habits can keep you from growing and advancing as a person. You need a partner who encourages your improvement, not one who keeps you trapped in a cycle of bad habits.

(Pretty Little Liars via Freeform)

 

You Feel Like You Can't Be Yourself

The ultimate sign that your partner brings out the worst in you is simply that you don't feel like yourself around them. Feeling awkward or worrying about every word you're going to say shouldn't be the norm. Good partnerships should make you feel like more of yourself, not less. If you struggle to show your true colors to your partner, it's a pretty clear sign that they're not encouraging all your best qualities.

 

Looking for more dating advice? Click HERE for five signs of a failing relationship people usually ignore.