Toxic Relationships

Your mental wellness is a priority. So it’s important to pay attention to the things that take a toll on it! Given that we as humans are innately social, it’s no surprise that our human relationships are heavily linked to overall happiness and mental well being. In fact, this study found that the overall quality of social relationships is a strong risk factor for major depression. Therefore, toxic people and relationships are one of the main things that can impact your mental health.

How do you define something or someone that’s toxic? A toxic person or relationship is typically described as one that makes you feel unsupported, misunderstood, demeaned, or attacked ( source ). A toxic person or relationship will often make you feel worse in general or about yourself. On the other hand, a healthy relationship will make you feel better, more secure, and overall joyful. Toxic people can leave you feeling down, are able to suck the energy right out of you, and can even mess with your ability to create new bonds long term.

But how do you spot the signs of a toxic relationship? The most obvious ones are verbal abuse, any physical aggression, reluctance to set boundaries, emotional abuse, and an overall lack of support. However the signs might be less obvious. For example, negative relationships are likely to make you feel like you’re in a constant state of stress. You might feel as if you are walking on eggshells every time you are with a toxic person. Honestly, it’s not fun to be in a toxic relationship because your energy is being trained rather than refueled.