It’s normal for some of your best friends or your significant other give you a hard time every once in a while. However, when you’re constantly waiting for the next knock-down-drag-out fight or are beginning to question your own self-worth, you may be in the midst of a toxic relationship. Here are some red flags to look out for so that you can work on expelling the toxicity from your life.
- They’re not there for you the same way you’re there for them.
-
If you have a friend or significant other that always comes to you with problems, but they aren’t there for you in the same way, that could be a sign that the relationship is toxic. If they put your emotions on the backburner and invalidate what you’re feeling or start talking about themselves instead, that’s a clear sign that the relationship is not healthy. Try and talk to the person about it first if they do this, but if it doesn’t improve, you may want to think about cutting them out of your life.
- They aren’t considerate of your concerns.
-
If you’re in a relationship and you express concerns and the other person doesn’t make an effort to respect them, this is another red flag. This lack of respect for your feelings also means a lack of respect of you in general. If they are not willing to respect your boundaries, but expect you to respect theirs, that’s an issue and a sign that the relationship is toxic. Again, try talking to them about it, but if the condition doesn’t improve, drop them
- They constantly belittle you
-
If instead of supporting you and your success, your friend or significant other constantly tries to one-up you with something they’ve done in their life, that’s a sign of toxicity. This goes along with invalidating your feelings – if they can’t be happy for you, find someone who can. If you’re constantly feeling bad about yourself because of something they said, maybe they’re not the best person to have around.
- You’re constantly waiting for the next mistake
-
If you’re feeling physically tired from dealing with the person and you’re not surprised at the fact that they’re inconsiderate or uncaring, you’ll find that this is probably a toxic relationship, too. If they keep making the same mistakes that hurt you over and over again, they aren’t the best fit for you. You shouldn’t have to wait around for them to mess up again. Don’t be afraid to cut them out of your life if it’s too much for you, know your worth and look out for yourself sometimes, too.
I know it can be difficult to cut ties with a significant other or a close friend, but you have to look out for yourself and know that you deserve to be treated well by those you care about. There’s no shame in loving yourself, and sometimes that means getting rid people that treat you like you’re anything less than awesome.