Red Flags

To different people—and within the contexts of different relationships—different quirks, compatibility issues, and mishaps can be relationship red flags. For one person, it might be a huge red flag if their S.O. is horrible at texting back on time, whereas that might be NBD for someone else. Maybe it's even a red flag if your partner hates cats, or struggles a bit with their work-life balance. Basically, much like green flags, red flags can be personal.

But there are some red flags that should never be ignored. Abusive and controlling behavior is a red flag in any relationship structure, says Callisto Adams, PhD, dating and relationship expert and coach and founder of HeTexted.com. She says being cautious (not paranoid), and trusting your gut feeling and instincts is key to spotting a red flag. "It saves you time, tears, and experiences that won’t feel good when you look back at them," she adds.

And then, there are the red flags like constant miscommunication, jealousy, or your partner taking you for granted. These don't always necessarily mean that a relationship is doomed—but just recognizing these flags is the first step to repairing your relationship before the issues escalate.

Ahead, discover the signs experts say most commonly indicate your 'ship is heading for some rough waters, exactly how to address red flags as they emerge, and how to know when it's time to cut and run so you can save yourself some heartache.

~ Sabrina Tolbert