Human beings are social animals. We need to have strong and healthy relationships in order to thrive. Having a partner who supports and understands you can make your life easier and happier. However, a toxic relationship can wreak havoc in the lives of people as it tends to cripple their sense of self worth and self esteem
In the era of online dating apps, many of us are not aware of what constitutes a toxic relationship. Experts have claimed that a relationship becomes toxic when one or both the partners start prioritizing love over other important components of a healthy relationship. This means that if you give primacy to the romantic quotient of a relationship over the amount of respect that you are given or the manner in which your partner behaves with you, then you are likely to accept being treated like a doormat. Similarly, prioritizing love over factors such as trust and loyalty creates room for your partner to cheat on you.
It is commonly believed that only weak and insecure people find themselves trapped in toxic relationships. Studies have revealed that seemingly independent and strong willed individuals too are equally susceptible to abuse. It is usually very difficult to differentiate toxic relationships from the healthy ones because in most cases, the signs of abuse are way too subtle to be noticed and identified. Hence, people find it extremely difficult to get rid of their toxic partners. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of awareness about toxic behavior patterns. Even our society tends to justify and normalize toxic tendencies through movies and other forms of pop culture
No relationship can ever be perfect. But if you are in a relationship with a person who makes you feel mentally and emotionally exhausted, then may be its time to walk out of it. Having said that, there are certain signs that can act as red flags when it comes to identifying toxic relationships and abusive partners. While it is certainly not easy to get out of such situations, being aware of the signs can help prevent severe mental and emotional trauma. Thus the most common signs are
- Lack of Support – A healthy relationship is one where both the partners share a mutual desire to see each other succeed in all walks of life. If your partner is no longer supportive of your goals and ambitions, you are probably in for a bitter reality check.
- Hostile Communication – Most conversations in a toxic relationship are filled with overt resentment and hateful criticism. Other common forms of verbal abuse include yelling and name calling
- Control Freak Behavior – Your partner tries to control each and every sphere of your life ranging from the clothes you wear to the people you talk to. He or she tries to dominate you by threatening you, by telling you what is right or what is good for you, by constantly tracking your movements throughout the day, by controlling your finances or by accessing your personal devices and social media accounts.
- Lack of Trust – Your partner does not think twice before lying to you while constantly accusing you of being dishonest and deceitful.
- Narcissistic Behavior – If your relationship constantly revolves around what makes your partner happy and if your partner finds it extremely hard to take a no for an answer, it can be a sign of toxicity. Your partner does not give equal importance to your needs and constantly violates your boundaries
- Constant Stress & Anxiety – Toxic relationships can be mentally, emotionally and even physically traumatizing. Being with a toxic partner is like walking on eggshells. You find it extremely difficult to deal with the erratic mood swings of your partner. So much so that you begin to doubt your own sanity. Gas lighting is the most severe form of mental abuse. All of this takes a toll on the victim and leads to high levels of stress and anxiety
If you believe that your relationship is becoming toxic or if you know someone who is stuck in such a relationship, please reach out for help. The society must be supportive of those who dare to take a stand for themselves.
