By: ArabLounge Staff

How do you know when it’s the right time to walk away from a relationship?

This question is fraught with landmines—it’s never easy to walk away from someone you love, but sometimes it’s the best thing for you.

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to love. Some people stay in the worst relationships because they cannot bear to be apart from the person they fell in love with, or because they hate the idea of being alone. Everyone knows one pf these people.

But when it comes to personal safety, there are a few red flags everyone should be able to spot as a warning sign. These are signals that its time to not only reevaluate why you’re with this person, but whether or not you will continue to be with them. The following are things to watch out for:

1) A sense of apathy about the relationship: Is time you spend together stagnant? Do you feel as if the other person isn’t trying as hard as you might be? Do they seem to have given up on the relationship?

If you notice these things, it may signal that the person you’re with just isn’t emotionally in the same place as you are anymore. Boring should not be one of the ways you describe the time you are with each other—life shouldn’t be wasted being just “eh” about everything. Know that there are so many other people that could give you all the exciting aspects of being in a relationship and still love you just as much.

2) You would rather spend time with other people: Wanting to be around your friends as opposed to your boyfriend or girlfriend is perfectly natural. Independence is an extremely attractive trait, and the more time you spend with others, the more you have to talk about once you do see each other again.

However, when you start looking more forward to the time spent with friends rather than your loved one, then there’s a problem. This is the one person you have chosen to be with, and if its become obvious that you’re not enjoying time with this person anymore, then it’s time to reevaluate.

3) Jealousy: This is a trait that is never attractive in a person. If there arises an issue of them exerting control over who you are with, where you go, and when you go, then you really need to look at why you have allowed it thus far.

Jealousy should never be attributed to them just loving you “too much.” It’s about control, plain and simple. If you notice it getting out of hand, get out of the relationship right away—it will only get worse with time.

4) Straying Eyes: No one is worth this. If they have straying eyes, and it makes you feel as if you’re simply not enough, then walk away. Not only can this cause the prior point (jealousy,) but it’s degrading to see the person you love looking hungrily after someone else. You should be their main focus when you’re together, not the attractive woman sitting two tables away. Take this as your cue to exit; it’s just something no one should have to put up with.