The performance of relational database applications is becoming slower due to rapid growth in data volume, velocity, and variety, as well as increasing complexity and interconnectedness. Relational databases were designed for tabular data with a consistent structure, but struggle to handle data relationships and are inflexible when it comes to changes in schema or business requirements. The five surest signs that it's time to give up on relational databases include a large number of JOINs, self-JOINs, frequent schema changes, slow-running queries despite tuning, and pre-computing results, which can lead to inefficiencies and hinder data-driven insights. In contrast, graph databases are purpose-built to store highly connected data, adapt to changing schemas, and capture real-time insights from data relationships, making them a more suitable solution for handling today's complex data landscape.