If you’ve never heard of ‘love bombing’ before, you definitely need to learn about it.
Love bombing is a tactic that manipulative people use to win over their partners in the beginning stages of their relationship.
Everything seems like it’s perfect, almost too good to be true, and once they’re certain that they’ve earned your loyalty and trust, a switch flips and they start to change.
Here are some signs that you’re being love bombed that you definitely need to look out for.
1. They overwhelm you in the beginning
We all dream of finding our Prince Charming or that perfect mate that will woo and romance us at the beginning. Some people really are one in a million and will shower you with love and attention just because they love you and want to show that to you. However, it’s not always as genuine as you might think it is. If you meet someone and right off the bat it seems they are going above and beyond to impress and win you over with gifts and grand gestures, make sure you don’t let your guard down too soon. It could be the real deal, but it also could be love bombing.
2. They show early signs of jealousy
Jealousy and a controlling or possessive nature are common traits of a love bomber. They might just seem to be very attentive and doting partners at the beginning, always wanting to be around you and check in on you, but if you start to notice concerning behavior such as an attempt to keep constant tabs on you or if they tell you that they don’t want you going certain places or seeing certain people, it could be a sign that all the attention they were giving you at the beginning was just a love bomb tactic.
3. They compliment you while hurting your self-esteem
Another sign of love bombing is when your partner seems to always be showering you with excessive compliments, telling you how amazing and perfect you are while subtly attempting to make sure your confidence stays low. Be on the lookout for underhanded compliments such as, “You are so beautiful. I wish the rest of the world saw you the way I do,” or, “I think you’re brilliant and amazing and if no one else agrees, who cares? You’ll always have me”.
4. They attempt to keep you reliant on them
Partners who love bomb always try to remain in power in the relationship by making sure that their partner relies on them for everything. If you find that your partner makes every attempt they can to ensure that you depend on them, keep your eyes open because they could be love-bombing you. If they encourage you to do things like spend your savings or quit your job, it could be an attempt to make sure that you’re financially dependent on them to survive.
5. They dismiss your opinions
If your partner seemed to really value your opinions and what you had to say at the beginning but now seems to dismiss them by patronizing you or making you feel like what you’re saying is ridiculous or uneducated, this could be a big sign that you’ve been love-bombed.
6. They treat you like you’re indebted to them
At the beginning of a love-bombing situation, your partner will most likely bombard you with gifts and favors. Not only will they buy you things but they might even go so far as to start paying bills for you or helping you get out of debt. It doesn’t just stop at finances either, they could do things like help your family with things and your friends, earning the trust of your loved ones too. If they start to make you feel as if everything he’s ever given to you or done for you are things that you have to “pay them back for” in some way or another, it’s a definite bad sign.
7. They attempt to whisk you away from everyone
Isolation is another big sign of love-bombing. If you start dating someone and they seem to always want to steal you away and take you off on trips and adventures, it could definitely be because they’re smitten with you and want to make memories but it could also be an attempt to constantly isolate you from your friends, family, and anyone who could possibly catch on to their love-bombing tactics.
