Floodlighting in a relationship is overwhelming. How to deal with it?

Imagine you are on a first date with someone and while you are still devouring that slice of pizza, they are already deep into a trauma dump. Why people floodlight A person may engage in floodlighting for several reasons: it could be out of guilt, a desire to accelerate the relationship dynamic, or simply a need for sympathy. “Floodlighting in relationships is when one partner overshares deep emotions or personal struggles too soon. While vulnerability is important, dumping unfiltered emotions early on isn’t the same as genuine emotional connection,” says relationship expert Ruchi Ruuh. It can also be a red flag for emotional dependencywhere one person seeks validation instead of building mutual trust over time,” says Ruuh.