My senior year of high school I thought I met the girl of my dream, but it was truly a nightmare. We were together for two years, and you think you would get to know someone by then. But I don't even know the person anymore who is now called my Ex. The purpose of this article is to protect others from going through the things that I went through for two years.

1.) LURE

Toxic/Abusive relationships never start out that way. Everything will seem perfect, too perfect. You will have so much in common. Maybe he has a car and takes you everywhere with him. He's treating you like his little princess. I'm not telling you to be spurious of people's kindness but it is not always the case.

Personally, it went from us being out in public together all the time. To her never wanting to leave the house. This is the red flag to look out for. When you're significant other's day to day actions change. The actions that they were doing before may not have been genuine and may have actually been a lure to trap you.

The lure is the most important part, and we will come back to this later.

2.) FRIENDSHIPS/FAMILY LOST

If your partner makes you unfriend, unfollow, or stop talking to anyone, stop talking to them right away. It may not seem like much at first, just one friend that your partner told you is toxic towards you. It may come off as your partner trying to help you, but don't be deceived.

If you want to still be friends with that person do so. Although in most cases your significant other will continue to voice their distaste for this person. If your partner ever gives you an ultimatum of your friend or them. ALWAYS ALWAYS pick your friends. They will still be there for you in the end.

Your significant other may try to push you away from your family. BIG RED FLAG. This step only makes things so much worse for the victim of abuse. You feel like you have nowhere to run, no one to tell, no one to talk to. Never let them speak badly on your family or allow them to separate you from them. You're already in college and don't see them much, so don't let your significant other block you.

In addition to this, if you have not met your significant other's family and you have been dating for over a year, they are hiding something. In addition to this if your significant other allows their family to talk badly about you. It's not worth your time to stay there because it shows how your significant other truly feels about you.

3.) ABUSE

If your partner starts speaking down to you. You need to leave. This is where lure comes back into play. They lured you in so that they can treat you however they wish. They will make you their personal punching bag and will blame everything on you when you have done nothing wrong. The entire time you will be daydreaming about the person that used to treat you nice and "loved you". That person does not exist, and you need to leave as soon as possible.

This is not only verbal it is also physical. If your partner touches you, removes your clothes, or physically brings you harm, forces you to have sex with them, it's time to leave. No one has the right to touch you without your permission. Even if you are in a relationship with them they do not own you are you are your own person.

4.) DESTRUCTION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY

If your partner has threatened or has destroyed your personal property. It is time to go. If your significant other is willing to break something of yours, they are probably also willing to hurt you too.

THE REALIZATION

Many people myself included never realized they were in an abusive relationship. It's important to familiarize yourself with these red flags not only for yourself but for your friends. If you are currently in an abusive relationship, remember you love them but you love yourself more.