5 Signs It’s Not Psychologically Safe (and You Should GTFO)
Not every social situation is worth your energy—especially in this era of political landmines.
If you’re feeling uneasy about a new person or environment, trust that instinct.
Here are five signs you may need to bounce:
They Treat Your Identity Like a Debate Club Topic. If someone’s idea of fun discourse is questioning your human rights, that’s a hard no. Statements like “I just think we should hear both sides” when one of those sides is actively harmful? Yeah, that’s not intellectual curiosity—it’s a red flag.
Your Body Feels Like It’s Sounding an Alarm. You know that tight-chested, queasy feeling when a situation is off? Your nervous system is smarter than your logical brain sometimes. If you feel like you need to shrink, defend, or emotionally armor up, that’s a sign you’re in unsafe territory.
They Keep Pushing Political Conversations You Clearly Opted Out Of. You say, “I’d rather not get into politics,” and they launch into “But don’t you think cancel culture is out of control?” Nope. Respecting boundaries is bare-minimum human behavior. If they steamroll yours, they’re not here to connect—they’re here to argue.
They Hide Bigotry Behind ‘Just Joking’ or ‘Playing Devil’s Advocate’. If they throw out a racist, sexist, or anti-LGBTQ+ comment and immediately follow it with “Relax, I’m just kidding”—that’s a test. They’re seeing if you’ll let it slide. Spoiler: You don’t have to.
They Parrot Conspiracy Theories or Extremist Takes. If someone casually drops “The media is lying to you” or “DEI is ruining America”, you’re not dealing with someone open to real discussion. Misinformation and conspiracy thinking tend to come bundled with deeper biases that you do not have to waste your time unpacking.
If any of these sound familiar, you don’t need to “be the bigger person” or “find common ground.”
You have the right to GTFO (get the f**k out) of that situation.
Your peace is priceless, and your energy is better spent on people who don’t make you feel like you have to justify your existence.