I would say being inconsistent with affection. Growing up, my mom was incredibly affectionate but my mom worked incredibly hard, being a single mom. So she was a housekeeper and stayed at her bosses' houses for a week. So my grandma took care of me and one minute she would be affectionate and then the next she would push me off of her when I would try to hug her, saying, "Get off of me!". I was a kid so I would laugh because I thought she was playing. She was creepy when she was affectionate and cold when she wasn't. When my mom noticed her abusive behavior, she immediately got a job that allowed her to come home everyday. I keep asking her, "What did my grandma do to make you do that?" She has never given me a straight answer...So I think she knows something I don't.

So yes, I would definitely say inconsistent displays of affection is a sign.