It’s not uncommon to feel like you’re being exploited in a romantic relationship. Maybe your partner is always asking you for favors or money, or maybe they never seem to make an effort to please you. If you’re constantly feeling used, it’s time to take a step back and reassess your relationship.
Ask yourself if your partner is truly interested in your well-being, or if they’re just using you for their own gain. If it’s the latter, it might be time to move on. There is plenty of other fish in the sea, and you deserve to be with someone who will cherish and respect you.
But, just in case you want to first make sure that that’s what’s happening in your relationship; read on and find out about 5 signs that you’re being exploited by your partner.
5 signs you’re being exploited in your romantic relationship:
1- You always give and they always take:
Do you find yourself always being the one to give, while your partner only ever takes? If you’re constantly doing all the work in the relationship and never getting anything in return, then it’s possible that you’re being exploited.
For instance, if you find yourself always being the one to initiate plans, initiate intimacy, or do all the work around the house, it may be a sign that you’re being exploited. Your partner should be willing to put in the effort too.
Also, if your partner is always taking from you, but never giving back then it’s a red flag. Whether it’s money, time, or emotional support, they should be giving as much as they’re taking. And if they cannot then they should be compensating in other departments for whatever it is you feel you’re giving more of than they are.
A healthy relationship should be built on mutual give-and-take, so if you feel like you’re always the one doing all the giving, it’s time to have a talk with your partner about what you think is happening.
2- You feel like you’re not equal:
One well-known good sign of a healthy relationship is feeling like an equal partner. So if you feel like your partner is always trying to control or manipulate you, or if they regularly put you down, then it’s likely that you’re being exploited and that you’re in an unhealthy relationship.
In a healthy relationship, both partners should feel like they’re on equal footing, so if you don’t feel like that’s the case in your relationship, it’s time to have a talk with your partner about it.
Maybe they want to boss you around, tell you what to do, and never listen or ask for your input. Such a partner might even try to control who you spend time with, or how you dress. Or they may simply be the only one making all the decisions about your couple without consulting you, or disregarding your opinion all the time.
If you don’t feel like you have any say in the relationship, or if you always feel like you’re doing more than your partner, it’s time to take a step back and reassess things. In fact, if this is what has been happening; don’t hesitate to fight back, stand up for yourself, and regain some power.
Your partner should be just as eager to involve you in any decision-making and to make things work as a team, and if they’re not, it might be time to move on.
3- Your boundaries are constantly being crossed:
Another sign that you’re being exploited could be if your partner doesn’t respect your boundaries. If your partner regularly ignores your wishes or violates your boundaries, it’s a sign that they don’t respect you and are more concerned with their own needs than yours.
This also proves that your partner doesn’t reciprocate your feelings and needs. If you constantly have to complain or remind them that you don’t want to tolerate something specific that they keep doing, then they clearly don’t mind pushing your limits.
As we said a healthy relationship is built on mutual admiration and respect. If you find yourself continually putting your partner’s needs above your own, but they don’t do the same for you, it’s possible that they’re exploiting your feelings for their own gain. If they don’t even think twice before crossing your boundaries or doing something that they know would bother you then it’s bad news!
Remember, any relationship should be built on trust, respect, communication, and equality. If you don’t feel like you have those things, it might be time to move on.
4- Your partner is very demanding:
A fourth sign that you’re being exploited in your relationship on our list today is if your partner is always making demands. Does it seem like your partner is always expecting things from you? Do they demand your time and attention even when you’re not available? If so, they may be taking advantage of your good nature.
If they always have expectations of you and never seem to have any regard for your feelings or needs, then it’s very likely that they’re taking advantage of you. In healthy relationships, both partners are considerate of each other and try to make sure that everyone’s needs are being met.
So if you feel like your partner doesn’t shy away from demanding things of you that you clearly cannot provide or will have difficulty making possible then it can be disheartening. If your partner always has high expectations of you all the time, selfishly, and without consideration for your feelings, availability, or anything else; then it is definitely a sign that you’re being exploited.
Maybe it’s time to reassess your relationship in this case. Nobody deserves to be taken advantage of, so make sure that you put an end to your partner’s feelings of entitlement or that you start matching them by expecting just as much from them.
5- You no longer trust that your partner has your best interest at heart:
As we said romantic relationships are built on so many different positive values, principles, and a shared commitment to one another. So what happens when that trust is violated? When one person starts to take advantage of their partner, it can slowly erode the relationship, and create doubts or distance until it finally collapses.
If you start to doubt that you’re being exploited in a romantic relationship then you no longer trust that your partner has your best interest at heart. If they’re constantly putting their own needs above yours, or taking advantage of you financially, emotionally, or sexually, it’s going to validate your doubts and break your heart.
Having doubts about your partner’s intentions can be horrible. But, usually, it never happens without a reason. So maybe you should listen to your gut and protect yourself from getting exploited further.
You deserve to be with someone who loves and respects you, not someone who is only using you for their own benefit. So don’t let yourself be taken advantage of any longer if that’s what you think or doubt is happening to you. Find someone who will love and cherish you the way you deserve to be loved.
In the end, think about visiting this article on dealbreakers or things that many individuals cannot forgive in a relationship. Maybe if you spot something that has happened to you with your partner on this list, you’ll have an extra reason to run for your life!