Most people would agree that they would prefer to be in a relationship than alone. This is particularly true if the person in question is single at the moment. However, even at one’s lowest, it’s best to always have a few red lines, because a bad relationship is worse than just being alone.
X user Usman Tariq asked internet users “What's y'all biggest fear in a relationship?” and people shared their thoughts, from dealbreakers to worst-case scenarios. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorite posts, and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Trying to make it work and keep things civil between the two during/after the relationship, all the while he’s out there trying to make you look like a clingy ex who’s obsessed with him
I'm sorry but that's when the gloves come off for me. I remember breaking up with a guy because an old love had come back into my life and we had only been dating 2 very casual months. I didn't want to even chance being a cheater so I ended things & even gave him the gift card for a tattoo he'd wanted for his upcoming birthday as a goodwill gesture. He took it, acted super understanding then told everyone I was a wh**e who cheated on him the entire time.
Load More Replies...I absolutely agree. Before committing to a relationship you must ensure that one of you will be able to kill the bug.
I have NASTY arachnophobia, so my brother has to take care of the spiders. He complained that I was not doing my part in dealing with snakes until our new Feline Overlord decided to start bringing snakes up to the door. Now we are equal - he deals with the spiders, I deal with the snakes, and the Feline Overlord is spoiled rotten so he doesn't bring us any more slithering "presents."
Load More Replies...As a seasoned bug killer, I'm going to let you in on a trade secret. We don't really kill the bugs, we scare them away so they can come back and haunt you another day.
Yeah what’s wrong with these wusses
Load More Replies...I get cave crickets in my house. My cats are on them like lasers. I'll find the occasional 2 inch sickly striped leg on the floor like they're letting me know they're on the job. I don't want to know what they're doing with the rest of it.
My girl Pook did this. You'd always find the cricket legs but never the cricket
Load More Replies...That used to be a thing in my old apartment. I got really good at catching them with a butterfly net and getting them out.
Load More Replies...Depends on if it has wings. No wings, that bug is toast. wing, AAAHHHH HUBBY COME KILL THIS BUG FOR ME!!!
Mine started off nice. I could write a book but, here is a few. Cheated on me with both my best friends, had anger issues and turned everything around to where fights were always my fault. Got physically abusive. We actually (he actually) reconnected about a year ago through texts and calls after 30 some years, he hasn't changed a bit. He went off on some rant about things that never happened and then blocked me when I confronted him about it. He also said he's been with someone for 15 years so, he's cheating on her in a sense also. Ladies, beware. His name is Todd Hamer and he lives in Central Illinois.
This. "I'm not looking for anything serious, can't we just keep going on like this" when you inevitably have already fallen in love and it takes ages to get over the pain and depression of losing him and shame not being good enough. So now I choose to be volcel and single with cats. Serenity 😊
Me neither. It’d be easier with a reason to get out of bed.
Load More Replies...But i will legit sleep through them all if i dont have a bunch to bombard me first thing in the morning!
One of the reasons I'm glad I'm single. If I wasn't, I would be worried about waking them up and annoying them, I would have to get up when my first alarm went off!
My husbands solution to this has been to just wake me up himself. I don't hit snooze 8 times and he doesn't have to listen to my alarm. Win win
My hubby and I both have sets of alarms. The first is to turn the heat up so we can get out of bed, second to get the dogs out of the bed - I dislike just pushing them off, they are warm and comfortable too, and I understand! Third is to actually get my feet in the ground. Fourth, feed the dogs, and last - leave the house. There is a method to the madness!
Same...I was used...So sad...Love me, but not for me, but what I could bring to the table: activities, fun, $$$$
Yes. Yes they do. If it's a choice between you or the cats there really is no contest.
For me, the dogs have a right to cuddle up too! We are a pack and sleep that way! Also, who's going to defend me in the middle of the night when we are groggy, and don't have our glasses or contacts on? That's right, the doggies will! Good dogs!
Load More Replies...At the risk of down votes, cats in the bed would be a deal breaker for me. I'm not trying to change anyone though. If someone wants their cats to sleep in their bed, then we just wouldn't be compatible.
I understand you, but you have to ask yourself what probably came first... my cats sleeping in my bed, or you trying to sleep in my bed among the cats...🤷🏽...I upvoted you anyway...🙋🏽
Load More Replies...I love my pets in my bed, but I can agree with compromise. I can cuddle or sleep with them in our living room, if we let them in, but our bedroom is a no zone.
Holy c**p, a reasonable person online! Have an upvote! I'm with you, compromise is important. I wouldn't get rid of pets for someone but making a compromise that they're not sleeping in the bed with you at night seems perfectly reasonable.
Load More Replies...In my house, yes. My cats are family and are my feline kiddos. My human kiddos get to sleep in the bed so why wouldn't I let my feline kiddos?
Their frequent walks through a sandbox of s**t would be my first suggested reason. Hairball on your pillow would be a close second.
Load More Replies...My cat goes where he pleases and does as he will. That doesn't work for you you know where the door is. His thing for beating up dogs has caused issues though and that one is fair.
Yeah my cat is a dog beater too! My friends dog is now too scared to set foot in the house.
Load More Replies...And for me that’s exactly what happened. Years and years of a relationship that was all just a lie. :(
Me too. Whole personality was made up. Many, many years before I figured it out so - free and never again!
Load More Replies...Yes, I had that happen so hard to come back from that, hard to trust after that too.
Agree 100%. My now ex-husband started sleeping with a fan prior to our wedding so that he would be used to it after we got married because if not, "Bye, bye!"
Load More Replies...Oh heck no. My fan died around 1am and finally at 2 am my husband's like lets go get you a new fan 😑 Your tossing and turning it's driving me up a wall! I literally can not sleep without my fan for gray noise and ventilation.
During the menopause I had the fan on every night of the year. Mr Auntriarch is a saint.
Wouldn't that be Uncleriarch?
Load More Replies...I've tried very hard to sleep without either but even with those on I'm such a light sleeper who tosses and turns all night. So, trying to sleep without those has been very difficult. So, sorry, I need them.
My husband and I sleep in separate rooms for this reason. Works great for us!
Yeah, that's not fair at all. But you should watch for the signs too.
As an adolescent / young adult, this wasn't unusual for me, BUT when I was in my late twenties and eventually had to try my own medicine, I finally realized the hard way how disgusting it is to juggle with the feelings of others so thoughtlessly...🤷🏽...I was awful and I regret the things I've done...😔
I dunno about this one. To me "love" is an action not a feeling. Those romantic feelings at the beginning of a relationship are going to change over time. But it definitely requires continuous actions of love to keep the relationship going. I wouldn't call that "falling out of love". I guess my issue is that phrase takes away autonomy. In my opinion the person is choosing to stop taking actions of love.
Yes. Agree. My first husband had shocked pikachu face when he came home and told me he had a gf and I just needed to deal with it. He was shocked when I laughed and left him.
Happened to me, We always said we didn't want kids, as she got to 37 she changed her mind and expected me just to accept it, emotionally blackmailed me guilting me into trying. Luckily she could get pregnant After that she tried to blame me for everything that was wrong with her life.
That's what she did to me! The other person was herself and her mom...
The opposite for me, how am I expected to hear what they're saying if I can't read it?
Like most of my family, I have a severe hearing loss. This is an absolute necessity for us.
It's really hard for me to process information, and quickly, so subtitles help. I have two ways to absorb info which makes processing faster and easier
do you mean like exclusively you? or like do you mean he has side chicks?
Load More Replies...True, but simply not wanting to be betrayed or hurt isn't exactly "oh god you've jinxed yourself AAHHHH"
Load More Replies...Worse yet, being compared to someone deceased that died while they were at the height of their relationship. There is just no way to come out on top there
Wouldn't hurt to be able to be funny on your own. My husband made a promise to himself to make me laugh every day. Sometimes it involves memes, but mostly it will be something he says.
I make my boyfriend laugh every day, and I'm not sure it's a good thing.
Load More Replies...It sucks to be on either side of this. I’m saying this as the one who couldn’t return the love for a person who loved me. I always felt guilty but also I learnt to forgive myself because I can’t force to love someone, no matter how great they might be.
Yes, also been on both sides. When it's you who doesn't love the other person back, or just fell out of love, the best you can fo is to be honest, to tell it to them, and to end things on friendly terms, letting them know that nothing is wrong with them. And then forgiving yourself and not weigh yourself down with guilt. Had to learn this the hard way.
Load More Replies...This. Every time, except him not loving me back, just wanting to use me for some time. Placeholder, I guess it's called?
Meatloaf song "2 out of 3 ain't bad" I want you. I need you. But there ain't no way, I'm ever going to love you.
Yeah been there. After 15 years of marriage he said "I thought I loved you."
Yup & she ran up my CC and emptied my Bank account stole precious heirloom and cheated with everyone behind my back! But what scared me was the million dollar Life insurance policy she took out on me! Fortunately I have experience at cheating death ☠️💀!
OMG!!! you dodged not just a bullet but an armoured tank!!
Load More Replies......I'm a disappointment in bed that you absolutely should have to experience tonight...🤔 🙅🏽 🤭
I read this as a DM from the girl her bf is cheating on her with
Load More Replies...That's what nightlights are for and idc what anyone thinks. I need just enough light to know my eyes still work ok when I wake up to go pee 187 times a night, but not enough to keep me awake.
I sleep with the tv on. I need noise at night plus, there is some light when I have to get up to go to the bathroom.
I sleep with the TV on, too. I always tune to a show I've seen before because then my mind will be occupied with the dialogue (I don't watch it, I just listen) rather than other things. If I'm thinking of other things, my mind won't turn off and I can't get to sleep.
Load More Replies...I sleep with the lights on also. If I wake up in the middle of the nite, I want to see instantly what is around me.
Interesting. When I fall asleep with the lights on, it is a much lighter sleep and I'm more likely to wake in the middle of the night. I also don't feel as rested.
Load More Replies...Consider a sleep mask, if you can tolerate it. My wife plays the night owl to my early bird, so I leave a small light on in the room so that she can come in without tripping. But the mask means that I sleep completely in the dark.
I like my room dark when I sleep. Notsure if I could sleep with someone even if they had a nightlight.
A good pillow over the nose and mouth will stop that! Don't act like you haven't thought about it!! 👩🏼🦰
Yasss. There's nothing wrong with separate bedrooms if it keeps you out of jail.
Load More Replies...My ex "I don't wanna get up i didn't sleep at all last night." Me: "then wtf was that chainsaw impression you were doing all night long? Like I thought it was snoring, but youd probly sleep better if you stopped making chainsaw noises all night."
I measured my wife's snoring once, 110 decibels where I lay! She is literally a risk to my hearing. Good job I can get to sleep before her.
Just because you're an adult doesn't magically make certain foods more palatable.
I assume the comment is not about "I don't like vegetables but I'll eat them anyway" and more about the sort of person who *never* eats vegetables. I know a few people in both camps.
Load More Replies...Tell that to both my sister and her fiance. So at least they found each other
Load More Replies...This is the hardest thing to say...and the worst thing to hear.
Oh please. Life is too short to sweat the little things like folding clothes. Hang up the things you want to look presentable and stuff every else in a dmn drawer.
Not a fear of mine but I would consider my wife a monster if she did that especially since it takes me forever to fold my laundry. They look like they are folded right from the store. That's why I can fit 35-45 tee shirts in one dresser drawer
I'm def a throw the clothes into a basket that's for clean clothes and a basket close to the washer for dirty clothes lol honestly I don't fold cause what's the point all my clothes are cheap AF 5 dollar tshirts and cheapest pants I can buy I am not a professional so don't care when I was a professional my clothes stayed hung up or folded cause that's different
And you -can- be struck by lightning, too, but that doesn't mean it's common... Besides, if you -really- want to raise awareness about this, you'll make your own post instead of trying to use abused men to further your own agenda against women. Oh, and by the way? She was answering a direct question; it was about her specifically. Why would she have a female partner if she's straight?
Load More Replies...Introvert upset they don't have fries, extrovert partner doing something about it. There is no downside, it doesn't fit here.
Load More Replies...This is actually the perfect combo in a relationship. Using your strengths to help each other.
The big light is the main living room one. I hate the big light. I like ambient lighting.
SAME. I also prefer natural lighting if possible, until I need actual ambient lighting.
Load More Replies...Big light is for worksite purposes only. Like cleaning in the winter darkness.
Girls tend to prefer table lamps etc to main room lights. I threw my MIL out of the house once as she kept turning the main light off against my wishes.
Load More Replies...that sounds rather abusive. The entire concept that you should be all they would ever need in life is a ridiculous overromantisized worldwiev, that will end up hurting that person. You cannot be another person's everything, and as such you shouldn't isolate them from the rest of the world.
I had an ex like that. Barely laughed at anything I said (and I'm funny dammit!) but she would laugh when watching something on TV. Was so surreal to hear her giggle.
If you are starting over, then you know the last situation was bad. Congrats!! It takes a huge amount of courage to start over. Give yourself a pat on the back, I for one, am proud of you.
I wanted carrot cake for our wedding. She wanted an M&S chocolate birthday cake. We had both.
My ex husband knew that marriage was important to me and that I wanted to be married only once. I've been single since our divorce finalized 6 years ago now, and he's on wife #4...
Oh honey, I got your back on this one. If you want something, get it. There's no going home. If he/she canna supply you with the basics, you have to move on. It will become a habit.
You deserve a badge or whatever is the thing now. SOOO many people go thru this.
This must be a guy. Sometimes I say "we need to talk ", and then it's "what do you want for breakfast? "
I'd actually prefer the honesty. Otherwise, I'm gonna assume you like it and make it again at some point.
You can be honest without being a douche canoe..js
Load More Replies...hopefully they'd be more tactful, but i'd rather hear that than them acting like the food is great when they think it's nasty ;)
someone who does anything and everything that the person they love says.
Load More Replies...Exactly. I am up this early because of an appointment. Normally I would be sleeping. 11-7 shift here.
Load More Replies...Jfc come on people, doesn't anyone know the difference between loose and lose?
maybe they mean the interest gets loose so they need to tighten it up somehow and that can be tricky :)
Load More Replies...My biggest fear is that I won't know what I've got till its gone. Regrets, etc.
This one just seems selfish? Coming from being the sole driver, I wish my partner would pass her driving test.
Seriously? If OP doesn't know which is worse, they should just stay single FOREVER
I honestly think, for me, it would depend on the income she's getting. If it isn't worth it, it isn't worth it.
This is highly subjective. First of all it depends on how open the partners are with these things - for some it's a big deal, for others it's just pictures and nothing "real". i guess it also depends on how much money they're making on OF
Whelp, that's me out... I've never seen sponge Bob and I don't have tik tok.
my biggest fear actually happened: partner not telling me what's bugging them and breaking up over it
Wanting to move in together. I’ve had several decades to realize that I hate living with other people. I just need my own place. Relationships where we meet up, do stuff, then go to our own homes are great. But I ain’t giving up my living alone for anything that’s not a cat.
Constant blaming/criticizing. Unwilling to look at their own actions. They think they're perfect or always right. No one is perfect, we all screw up from time to time. I need a partner who is focused on personal growth and development.
Your first three phrases best describe my biological "father" to a tee.
Load More Replies...My biggest fear is just dating tbh. Seems like a lot of trust and vulnerability is expected for any POTENTIAL relationship. I'd honestly rather start as friends, build trust then go to romantic. I ain't comfortable just blurting out my deepest thoughts and feelings to, essentially, a stranger.
Finding the right person then they get really sick, or worse die young.
BP, the poll at the end needs an "all of the above" option. All four of those are fundamental deal breakers for me and I can't choose just one.
my biggest fear actually happened: partner not telling me what's bugging them and breaking up over it
Wanting to move in together. I’ve had several decades to realize that I hate living with other people. I just need my own place. Relationships where we meet up, do stuff, then go to our own homes are great. But I ain’t giving up my living alone for anything that’s not a cat.
Constant blaming/criticizing. Unwilling to look at their own actions. They think they're perfect or always right. No one is perfect, we all screw up from time to time. I need a partner who is focused on personal growth and development.
Your first three phrases best describe my biological "father" to a tee.
Load More Replies...My biggest fear is just dating tbh. Seems like a lot of trust and vulnerability is expected for any POTENTIAL relationship. I'd honestly rather start as friends, build trust then go to romantic. I ain't comfortable just blurting out my deepest thoughts and feelings to, essentially, a stranger.
Finding the right person then they get really sick, or worse die young.
BP, the poll at the end needs an "all of the above" option. All four of those are fundamental deal breakers for me and I can't choose just one.
