When you are so crazy about a person & they are all you can think about, you allow yourself to give in to the obsession and let other relationships slide. This is a major red flag, and I am here to tell you why.

I have seen it time and time again. You meet someone, they rock your world, you begin to build your whole life around them, and what happens?!? You get trapped in the love bubble. Sure, it feels great at the beginning, but as time ticks on, you become more and more reliant on just one person to meet all of your needs.

This is the absolute WORST thing you can do in a relationship. No one wants to have another person utterly and completely dependent on them for EVERYTHING. It is just a matter of time before the bubble bursts and the relationship literally vanishes before your very eyes.

As a recovering love bubble addict, I have a few words of advice for all of you people out there who have co-dependent tendencies. If you want your romantic relationships to last, it is important that you remember these 5 Practical Tips for a Bubble Free Relationship:

1. Start Well: The beginning of the relationship is when many of our destructive habits begin. During those weeks and months when you are completely infatuated with someone, be sure to have healthy boundaries. Don’t allow yourself to text them every 5 minutes, don’t make sure you are available every night of the week to see them, and absolutely do not let the physical relationship cloud your better judgment!
2. Stay Balanced: I know that you want to spend every waking moment with your new crush, but don’t forget about the other people in your life. There may come a time when you actually need those people again, and if you completely ignore them whenever you are in a relationship, they will not stick around! Work on maintaining at least a couple vital friendships, you won’t regret it.
3. Slow and Steady: Take your time! The only thing that is a guarantee in relationships is all of those crazy emotions will dissipate. Try not to get so caught up in the moment that you forget to think about the future. If you are looking for the kind of relationship that has potential to turn into a life-long commitment, then resist the urge to rush into anything.
4. Find Common Ground: We know you like how the other person looks, we know you like how they make you feel, but do you actually have anything in common with this person? It is so important to find common ground early in the relationship. Common interests, shared morals, plans for the future, all of these things MATTER.
5. Enjoy the Ride: Just because you don’t give into the bubble, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy all of the vibrant and electric moments that only happen when things are shiny and new. Enjoy all of that, because it is worth enjoying. Just don’t lose yourself in it.

I have been happily married to my man for the past decade. I remember the beginning of our relationship, I remember how he made me feel, and I remember how I thought those feelings would last forever. Fortunately, I was smart enough have healthy boundaries with him, to set aside time to get to know who he truly was, and to prioritize healthy communication over all the fun physical stuff. We are still madly in love, but it is different than it used to be. It is better!

Give yourself a chance to find someone great to spend the rest of your life with: Stop sabotaging your relationships by succumbing to the love bubble!

Sarah Koontz is living her dream life with her doting husband and 2 beautiful daughters. She is passionate about writing, and loves sharing her advice and experiences with anyone who will listen. She has a blog with her best friend Sammi at www.groundedandsurrounded.com where they write about all things Healthy! Heart, Home, & Habits. Find Sarah on Facebook , Pinterest, and Instagram.