Relationships make our lives better, and it is so comforting to have people you love to go back to in tough times and also people who celebrate your wins like their own, it is a blessing. Our loved ones make our lives so much happier but not all relationships are as nourishing as the rest of the ones that make us feel at home!
It is not easy to reach a realization that this person who you so dearly love is not right for you or is toxic because how could they do any bad? It is not easy at all but to be able to recognise the signs of a toxic relationship, be it with someone in the family or friends is so important! In this blog, we have put down 6 signs to recognize a toxic relationship.
Toxic Relationship: Recognizing Its 8 Signs
1. When Criticism Crosses the Line
It is so important to have people who give constructive feedback but when the criticism crosses a line and you know that you are not feeling good about it, it is important to reflect on your relationship with this person.
It is true that your loved ones are the ones who care the most about you and they might have good intentions but that always might not be the case. If they constantly keep poking at your insecurities even after you have let them know how you feel about it, it is not a healthy sign.
2. Jealousy and Possessiveness
When you share a win in your life with someone you love and you can see that they are jealous about it, it is a sign of a toxic relationship. The ones you love truly will be so proud of you and every single win in your life, they will not try to undermine it or make it about themselves.
Being protective of your loved one is cute but being possessive could get really toxic for you and your mental well-being. The person might lack respect for you and your boundaries, stop you from meeting new people, going away from them, be jealous of the other people in your life, and want you to spend all your time with them.
A healthy relationship will never make you feel a lack of individuality but will add to your life rather than being your entire life.
3. Lack of Communication
If you feel you are unable to communicate your feelings to a loved one because you feel scared of their reaction or you know they might dismiss it, it is not a good sign. In a healthy relationship, you will never be scared to tell the other person about something that bothers you, you might be hesitant but that’s okay.
To be unable to share your feelings with someone you love so much and even when you do, if they keep dismissing you or if they avoid having important talks, then you might want to reassess your relationship with this person. To not have transparency in your communication with someone you love gets really confusing and might just lead to a lot of pent-up feelings with no outlet.
4. Excessive Conflicts
There are fights in every relationship, no relationship is without its share of ups and downs, but, if the intensity and the frequency of the fights are a lot you both are unable to reach a common point, or if you feel that you are the one who always has to settle the argument even when it is not your fault. It might create a lot of hostility and resentment towards each other and the relationship which would lead to a lot of mental exhaustion.
5. Over-Dependency
Your friends, family, and partner are there to help you in difficult times and they make it easy for you to cope with the tough times, but, if you start feeling an over-dependency on a loved one – financially or emotionally, you might want to reassess that relationship. If you start depending on them for the smallest things in your life, it might lead you to not feel confident or good about yourself.
To constantly feel that you need someone to be there for you all the time is a toxic sign. Being independent and your own person is extremely important. Like, we mentioned earlier, they are supposed to add to your life not be your life.
6. Manipulation and Gaslighting
It might be very tough to accept that someone you loved so dearly is manipulating you or even realize that you are being gaslighted because you do not expect it from them. Some examples of being manipulated would include – making everything about themselves – they are the victim in every situation, blaming everything on you, giving you the silent treatment – refusing to talk to you, making you feel guilty, keeping a lot of secrets from you, creating that over-dependency on you and using your love against you.
These are some of the signs of a toxic relationship, if you think you are in one, do share it with someone who will understand or seek professional help. You deserve people who love you unconditionally and show the same level of reciprocation in the efforts that you put into a relationship. If there is a loved one who you think might be toxic for you, creating boundaries with them or cutting them off from your life might not be easy but the first step to change is realizing that they are not right for you.
Always remember that you deserve just love, people who make you feel comforted and at home, and people who feel like sunshine!
If you are having a difficult time staying positive, try consulting a therapist today!
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