5 signs you’re in a love triangle and how to handle it

The love triangle is a complicated kind of relationship. People often list things like trust, communication, intimacy, and so on as the main ingredients that make romantic relationships work. But ultimately, it comes down to one’s personal preferences and what one wants from a relationship.

This leads us back to the subject of a love triangle. You see, many people enter into relationships without actually defining what they want out of it. As a result, they complicate things by falling for someone else while still in a committed relationship with their partners. On the other hand, a person who is not in any relationship can suddenly fall in love with someone who is linked with another person. After all, forbidden fruit is often the sweetest, right?

Table of Content hide 1What is a love triangle? 2Signs of a love triangle 2.1They’re communicating with their ex 2.2They don’t care about your feelings 2.3They start hiding information 2.4They choose to spend their free time elsewhere 2.5They are always in the same room 3Issues of a love triangle 4How to handle a love triangle 4.1Recognize your role in the relationship 4.2Know the purpose of the love triangle you’re involved in 4.3Consider other options 4.4Take a step 4.5Take care of yourself 5Finally…

What is a love triangle?

According to WikiHow, a love triangle is a sustained sexual and/or emotional attachment between two people, one of whom is in a committed relationship with another person. Cambridge Dictionary defines the term as a situation in which two people love a third person. The point is that a love triangle happens when at least one person falls in love with another person while still in a committed relationship with their partner. It usually begins with a casual, short-term affair and then gets more complicated when the culprits begin to “catch” real feelings for each other.

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Signs of a love triangle

Are you in love with someone but you don’t know where you stand because there’s someone else in the picture? Here are five signs you’re in a love triangle:

They’re communicating with their ex

There’s nothing wrong with keeping in touch with an ex. Not all relationships ended in bitterness. However, when your love interest or partner is constantly in touch with an ex, that’s a red flag. It means they are not completely over their ex but just using you to cure loneliness while stylishly waiting to reunite with the true love of their lives.

They don’t care about your feelings

When your partner seems not to care about what you think and how you feel, even after you have opened up to them, then you’re probably in a love triangle. Chances are their heads are in the clouds with thoughts of their new love interest and they don’t want you spoiling their fantasy. Watch it.

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They start hiding information

Nigerian men generally don’t like their women snooping around their phones for obvious reasons. Please don’t attack me. That’s the general belief among the womenfolk. It often results in conflict that can balloon into serious consequences which include breakups. Be that as it may, it is still a red flag when your partner begins to hide their phones and other devices so you can’t access information.

Chances are they’re threshing into forbidden waters that they don’t want you to know. Maybe your partner is obsessed with that Instagram model with big boobs and ass or that hot dude with dripping eight packs. It could also be that they’re sexting someone you know.

They choose to spend their free time elsewhere

You know your partner has some free time. But who does he or she choose to spend it with? Oh yeah, with them. It’s disheartening because you probably have plans of how you guys can take advantage of the time to spend together. It’s a red flag that you’re in a love triangle.

They are always in the same room

It’s not enough that they often keep in touch, they also seem to be together all the time. Anytime you enter a room, there is a constant presence around your partner. This is often the case when the two used to date before they broke up.

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Issues of a love triangle

Love triangles are very popular in books and movies, where they are romanticized. A dashing handsome prince falls in love with a peasant girl while he is still engaged with a beautiful princess from another kingdom. A beautiful princess falls in love with that poor but handsome young farmer but she is set to be hitched with a wealthy prince in an arranged marriage.

The problem is love triangle is not as romantic as it is portrayed in movies. The reality is the total opposite. Here are issues you will encounter in a love triangle in real life:

• When you convince a person to leave a relationship for you, there is no guarantee that the person will not leave you when someone else convinces him or her to enter into a relationship with them.
• Love triangle leads to making love choices with your ego which often means selling yourself short. This means you will always fight for your love interest’s love because you inherently believe you don’t deserve them.
• Trust will continue to be an issue in a love triangle. When you don’t trust your partner because they have feelings for another person, it will greatly affect your relationship.
• The mean love interest will  “pit” you against another for their love. That’s actually a terrible start to a romantic relationship. How long are you going to keep fighting?

How to handle a love triangle

Here are five ways to handle a love triangle:

Recognize your role in the relationship

They say knowledge is power. Knowing you’re in a love triangle and your role in it will help you take some necessary steps. You could be the person trying to be in an exclusive relationship with someone who is in another committed relationship. As in, you’re the side chick or side dude. You could also be in a committed relationship but you’re in love with someone else. This situation often brings up the feeling of guilt. Tell yourself the truth about your role in the love triangle to help you deal with it.

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Know the purpose of the love triangle you’re involved in

Before you decide to stay or leave a love triangle relationship, understand the role it plays in your life. Does it give satisfaction and validation? Are you getting the attention you’re seeking? Why are you in a love triangle in the first place?  If you’re able to answer these questions truthfully, you’re halfway to handling it.

Consider other options

You must not die in a love triangle. Have you thought of listing other alternatives? It’s hard not to feel like a victim especially if you’re not the one who initiated the love triangle. There are also other reasons you can’t or won’t leave a love triangle relationship such as financial insecurity, cultural taboo, lack of social support, and domestic violence, among others. List all the options you have in this situation and consider each from many angles. It will help you prepare better for any decisions you will eventually make.

Take a step

The fact is there is no perfect solution anywhere. The important thing is you’ve arrived at a decision and you’re taking a step in that direction. Getting stuck in a triangle relationship due to fear of the unknown will definitely not solve your problem. Thinking and waiting for a perfect way out of your situation will not help either. However, when you make a conscious decision to leave and actually make a move, you have better chances of successfully getting out of a love triangle than continuously getting stuck in it.

Take care of yourself

You matter. You deserve all the best. Get that into your skull and do something to take proper care of yourself. You don’t need anyone’s validation or acceptance. Invest in your personal growth. When you value yourself, you won’t get into a love triangle not to talk of getting stuck in it.

Finally…

Whatever decisions you make in a love triangle, know that there are consequences that could be positive or negative. The best thing is to love yourself and to forgive yourself for any mistakes. That’s how you grow and become a better person.

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