signs that you're in a toxic relationship

Don't ignore these red flags.

• Relationships can be difficult, but when do they go from difficult to detrimental?
• Some people rely on emotional signs or tend to repress their emotions, but oftentimes, our bodies are strong indicators of whether relationships are sustainable.
• These five warning signs may serve as red flags for the fact that an unhealthy relationship could be at fault as well as the risk for an even bigger problem.

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It's no secret that for as much as we love to be in love relationships are hard. Relationships require work and that work and communication can be emotionally taxing. But when does all that work cross a line into unhealthy territory?
There are the obvious emotional signs that things have taken a turn for the worse, whether that means sadness because of a partner's manipulative behavior or anger because of their high-conflict personality. Sometimes, though, our bodies can tell us things that our emotions aren't, can't, or that we may be just refusing to see.
These five physical signs may be indicators that a relationship has gone from hard or tough to physically unsustainable. If your body is telling you these things, the line may have been crosses into unhealthy territory.

You can't get adequate sleep.

Is thinking about your SO stopping you from getting enough sleep

 

Your partner and your relationship shouldn't be the reason you're losing sleep, literally or figuratively. A full night's sleep is pivotal for the body to function as it should, giving you a necessary recharge in order to take on work, school, or social activities. Once you start waking up or fluctuating from a healthy sleep pattern, that can big sign that things have gotten out of hand.
"When you're typically a sound sleeper and all of a sudden you wake up with an anxious feeling it's a sign your relationship has you stressed," Lisa Concepcion, a "love strategist" and the founder of LoveQuest Marketing, told Bustle.
If your lack of sleep becomes consistent, not only can it affect your performance in school or work, it can also lead to a whole roster of other physical risks, including cancer and a weakened immune system.

Your heart isn't functioning normally.

Heartbreak isn't only emotional

 

Being heartbroken is a real thing, though we usually tend to associate it with the emotional turmoil of going through a breakup or a split. In truth, heartbreak can be the physical symptoms that come with an unhealthy relationship and it can actually lead to cardiovascular problems, which are extremely serious.
According to Psychologytoday.com, a study followed more than 10,000 subjects for over a decade. Researchers found that subjects in negative or unhealthy relationships seemed to be at a greater risk for developing heart problems, including a fatal cardiac episode, than their counterparts who were in positive, close relationships.
If you've been feeling off and have noticed a change in your cholesterol, blood pressure, or overall health, it could be due to the circumstances surrounding your love life. The heart is one of the most important organs in the body, so it's vital that you maintain your cardiovascular health, even if it means a tough breakup.

You're constantly sick.

If you're in a dark place, it can weaken your immune system.

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One of the greatest indicators of a problem is depression. For many, depression is biological and not circumstantial, but if you're in a dark place, it can bring on or exacerbate pre-existing situationally depressive conditions.
Depression is usually accompanied by a whole slew of tough physical side effects, but one of the most physically-damaging is that it can weaken the immune system, according to WebMD. A weak immune system means that the body can have a tougher time fighting off infections and vaccinations may even prove to be less effective.
If you're not only displaying the emotional symptoms of depression but you're also feeling it physically, your relationship might be worth examining.

You're queasy at the thought of being around your significant other.

If you're dreading being with your partner, maybe you shouldn't be with them at all

 

It might seem obvious, but when the honeymoon phase butterflies or cutesy nervousness have turned into something else much more troubling and painful, that's a big sign that something might be off. Ideally, you're excited to see your partner, not feeling dread, nervousness, or nausea.
According to Reader's Digest, a toxic relationship may be the explanation for that that pesky, uneasy queasiness.
"Your body is smart," relationship expert Sofia Milan told RD.com. "If you were to eat poison, your body would immediately try to throw it up. If you get something in your eye, your eye starts tearing."
If you can identify your relationship or your partner as the main source of stress, then the queasy nervousness might be a sign that your body is picking up on your emotional pain.

You're lacking your usual sex drive.

If you can't get intimate with your partner, that's a red flag.

Sex isn't everything, and it should never, ever be forced or expected. But if you find that your normally-high sex drive has taken a downward swing beyond the natural ebb and flow of your body's usual libido levels, something could be up, especially if you're still attracted to or want to be aroused when it comes to your partner.
Scientific American reported 75% people with depression said that they suffered from a lack of sex drive during their bouts of mental illness. Sometimes, our bodies have ways of manifesting emotions or feelings, particularly repressed emotions or stress, by accompanying them with physical symptoms.
You might still be attracted to your partner or want to be intimate, but if you just can't get there, it's best to examine why, despite how embarrassing or tough it may seem to discuss something like this. This could mean communicating your feelings in a safe space, opening up to someone you trust, or even seeing a doctor.