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Toxic relationship meaning and signs: Are you in a toxic relationship? Learn about 15 warning signs to watch out for and find out how to safely leave a toxic situation. Restore your well-being with these crucial tips and strategies for creating a healthier, happier life.
Is your relationship toxic? 15 warning signs and how to escape (Freepik)
Mumbai: When individuals enter a relationship, they typically do so with the hope of finding happiness and fulfilment. Ideally, a relationship should provide a nurturing environment where people can grow, experience joy, and achieve contentment. Unfortunately, relationships can occasionally turn toxic, causing discomfort and unhappiness.
What is a toxic relationship?
A toxic relationship can develop when one person tries to control the other person excessively. The person may exhibit harmful behaviours, such as dishonesty, pressuring their partner into unwanted sexual activities, showing inconsideration, avoiding accountability for their actions, failing to communicate effectively, and attempting to dominate decision-making.
A relationship might become toxic if it loses its sense of equality. One may feel that their partner often makes mutual decisions without consulting them.
Signs of toxic behaviour in a relationship
- Lack of support: In a toxic relationship, an individual might feel unsupported by their partner, leading to a sense of isolation. They may realise their partner is only concerned with their desires and needs.
- Controlling behaviour: A partner exhibiting controlling behaviour may try to make most decisions and dictate aspects of their partner’s life, such as what they wear or who they can spend time with. This is a hallmark of a toxic relationship.
- Jealousy: Jealousy can become prevalent in a toxic relationship when your partner doesn’t trust you. They might start questioning your whereabouts, past activities, and the people you spend time with.
- Toxic communication: Your partner may begin to communicate with you in a hurtful, passive-aggressive, or sarcastic manner and constantly criticise you.
- Resentment: Resentment can build up in a toxic relationship, leading to anger and outbursts.
- Dishonesty: Dishonesty can signal a toxic relationship when one partner starts lying and hiding information.
- Disrespectful behaviour: Disrespectful behaviour, such as using derogatory language, mocking, destroying belongings, and acting inconsiderately, can indicate a relationship has become toxic.
- Walking on eggshells: If one partner feels unsafe, is constantly anxious about the other’s mood, or cannot raise concerns without fear of an angry reaction, it may be a sign of a toxic relationship.
Therapist Elizabeth Fedrick also shared signs of toxic behaviour in a relationship:
She further points out more signs of toxic behaviours in a relationship such as:
9. Deflection: This involves attempting to divert the conversation to avoid taking accountability or responsibility for one’s mistakes.
10. Gaslighting: This manipulative tactic makes the other person question and doubt their reality.
11. Manipulation: This occurs when a person’s actions and words do not align, exploiting the other person’s values and emotions.
12. Justifying: A major red flag where, instead of accepting responsibility for a mistake, a person makes excuses to justify their actions.
13. Victim mentality: Here, a person blames their partner for perceived slights or attacks and acts powerless in certain situations.
14. Breadcrumbing: Giving just enough attention to keep the other person in the relationship, but not enough to fulfill their emotional needs.
15. Stonewalling: Completely shutting down communication as a form of punishment after an argument or fight, a highly toxic behaviour.
Toxic relationships can significantly impact mental health, potentially leading to loneliness, depression, anxiety, trouble sleeping and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It can negatively affect physical and mental health, resulting in cognitive decline and reduced immunity as well.
Strategies to exit a toxic relationship
- If you suspect you are in a toxic relationship, you should consider talking to a trusted person for support and advice. This could be a family member, friend, teacher, co-worker, or counsellor.
- It is better to leave a toxic relationship and create a detailed plan, which might include:
- Finding a safe place to stay
- Building a support network of people who know about the decision
- Unfollowing and blocking your partner on social media
- Cutting off all contact
- Journaling thoughts and feelings to reinforce your decision to leave
Recognising the signs of a toxic relationship is the first step toward reclaiming your well-being and happiness. If you identify with any of the warning signs, it’s crucial to seek support from trusted individuals or professionals and create a safe plan to leave. Remember, everyone deserves a healthy, supportive, and loving relationship. Taking steps to escape a toxic situation can pave the way for a brighter, more fulfilling future.
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