This Valentine’s week, Glow is inviting people to take a closer look at the messages we often see about love.
Grand gestures. Constant messages. Sharing passwords. These things can feel romantic. But sometimes they can also be early warning signs of something more concerning.
From 9 to 15 February 2026, Glow will be running Romance or Red Flag?, a week-long awareness campaign across our social media channels. Each day, we’ll share a relationship scenario and explore an important question: is this a healthy expression of love, or could it be a red flag?
By encouraging open and thoughtful conversation, we hope to help more people recognise unhealthy behaviours and better understand what safe, respectful relationships look like.
Why we’re running the campaign
Abuse rarely begins with obvious harm. It often starts subtly, with behaviours that may feel intense, flattering, or protective at first.
When controlling behaviours are mistaken for romance, it becomes harder to spot risk early on. Raising awareness gives people the knowledge and confidence to recognise warning signs sooner, and to seek support if they need it.
Valentine’s Day celebrates love, and rightly so. But healthy love is built on trust, equality, safety and choice. It is never about control.
Abuse can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, background, or stage of life. This campaign is for everyone.
The behaviours we’ll be exploring
- Love bombing
What it can look like: Very intense affection early in a relationship. Constant messages. Extravagant compliments. Big declarations of love. Pressure to move the relationship forward quickly.
Why it can be harmful: Excitement at the beginning of a relationship is natural. However, love bombing is about creating emotional dependency quickly. The intensity can make it harder to recognise controlling behaviour later. If someone becomes upset when you do not respond immediately or pushes for rapid commitment, it may be about gaining control rather than expressing genuine care.
Healthy relationships develop at a pace that feels comfortable for both people. - Sharing passwords
What it can look like: Being told that sharing passwords, phone access or social media accounts proves trust, loyalty or commitment.
Why it can be harmful: Trust does not require giving up privacy. Pressure to share passwords can become a way of monitoring messages, tracking activity and limiting independence. This can increase isolation and, in some cases, create greater risk if the relationship becomes abusive.
Everyone has the right to personal boundaries, including online. - Gaslighting
What it can look like: Being told you are too sensitive, that something never happened, or that you are imagining things when you raise concerns.
Why it can be harmful: Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation that causes someone to doubt their own memory, perception or judgement. Over time, this can seriously affect confidence and wellbeing, making it harder to trust yourself or reach out for help.
In a healthy relationship, concerns are heard and taken seriously. - Stonewalling
What it can look like: Being ignored, given the silent treatment, or having communication deliberately withheld after disagreements.
Why it can be harmful: Taking time to cool down during conflict can be healthy when it is communicated respectfully. However, refusing to engage or acknowledge someone as a form of punishment can be a way of exerting control and causing emotional distress.
Healthy conflict involves communication, accountability and mutual respect. - Hoovering
What it can look like: After a breakup or attempt to create distance, the person suddenly apologises, makes dramatic promises, sends gifts, or says they cannot cope without you.
Why it can be harmful: Hoovering is often about regaining control rather than making meaningful change. Real change takes consistent action, accountability and time. It is not just about words or grand gestures when someone fears losing the relationship.
No one should feel pressured to return to a situation that felt unsafe or unhealthy.
Not every relationship that includes one of these behaviours is automatically abusive. Context always matters. However, these patterns are common in coercive and controlling relationships.
Understanding the signs helps people make informed choices, set boundaries and seek support if needed.
Everyone deserves a relationship built on respect, equality, safety and choice, and a life free from abuse.
Need support?
If any of these behaviours feel familiar, or if you’re worried about your own relationship or someone else’s, you don’t have to navigate it alone.
Glow provides confidential, non-judgmental support.
📞 Call us on 0330 094 5559
📧 Email [email protected]
🌐 Visit www.findtheglow.org.uk
Reaching out can feel like a big step, but we’re here to listen, support and help you explore your options safely.
Because everyone deserves to live a life free from abuse.
