An expert has outlined five subtle bodily signs that may suggest you’re in an unhealthy relationship.
When dealing with a toxic relationship, whether it affects you mentally or physically, your close family and friends likely have already expressed their concerns.
But what happens if their warnings aren’t enough?
Hormone health specialist Mike Kocsis, from Balance My Hormones, suggests that you might already be subconsciously aware if your relationship isn’t beneficial to you.
Kocsis shares five internal signals that you should be alert to if you’re experiencing a challenging relationship.
Are you prepared to heed your body’s signals if they suggest it’s time to move on?
Here are the five signs your body sends when there’s trouble in your romantic life.
In a conversation with The Mirror, Kocsis described how dopamine creates the initial ‘high’ when a relationship begins, but in toxic relationships, it can turn into a dependency, similar to a drug habit.
He stated: “In the early stages of a relationship, dopamine makes you excited about their messages, gives you butterflies, and makes you feel euphoric after a good date. In an unhealthy relationship, however, it becomes more like a drug.”
“Dopamine is the neurochemical for pleasure and reward, often mistaken for passion, but becomes unreliable, with spikes and crashes, mimicking a classic addiction cycle.”
So, how can you tell if you’re addicted to your partner? Here are four signs to observe.
If your relationship feels like the utmost priority despite its negative impact, or if you’re aware of its instability yet you crave your partner’s attention or affection for the next ‘dopamine hit’, these are signs. Another indication is constantly seeking your partner’s approval, while another is often reminiscing about the early days of your relationship.
The next chemical to consider is serotonin.
The specialist explains: “Serotonin governs your mood, sleep, emotional balance, and memory. It promotes feelings of steadiness, calmness, and satisfaction, so levels are high in happy and healthy relationships. In contrast, emotionally draining, insecure, and conflict-ridden relationships see a decline in serotonin, leading to irritability, emotional instability, and depression symptoms.”
What are the signs that your serotonin levels are not optimal?
Signs include feeling unlike yourself, irregular eating habits, or losing interest in hobbies you once enjoyed.
Other signs are fatigue and depression.
Specialist Kocsis comments: “Oestrogen and testosterone control libido and sexual satisfaction, along with energy levels and self-confidence.
“A healthy sex life doesn’t necessitate constant passion, but it requires trust, connection, and openness. If intimacy feels obligatory, it could be your hormones signaling something is amiss.”
If physical attraction dwindles or you feel distant during intimacy, your body might be signaling an issue.
A clear sign it’s time to leave could be if you find yourself fantasizing about others to escape from your partner, or if intimacy feels like a task.
“Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, spikes during emotional or physical stress, helping you stay alert and react swiftly in danger,” Kocsis notes.
“In a challenging relationship, one that feels unsafe, unpredictable, or overly demanding, your body may perceive everyday interactions as threats, keeping you in a mild fight-or-flight mode.”
What signs should you watch for?
Signs include persistent exhaustion despite sufficient sleep, anxiety or tension when your partner is around, mood swings, or constant stress.
The last aspect to consider is oxytocin.
If you don’t feel valued in your relationship or no longer enjoy shared experiences, preferring solitude instead, it might be time to end the relationship.
Kocsis concludes: “The ‘love hormone’, oxytocin, is released during connection and trust, playing a crucial role in social bonding, empathy, and intimacy, thriving in respectful and reciprocal relationships and environments.
“Research shows high oxytocin levels can lead to increased relationship anxiety, and when a relationship becomes strained, emotionally distant, or volatile, oxytocin levels decrease.”