How to Deal With Toxic Relationships

Have you ever felt something is wrong in your relationship even though you don’t want to end it? Do you feel a friendship is draining you instead of healing you? If you know this feeling, this situation is what you call a toxic relationship. While sometimes it is easy to point out problems in others’ relationships, you might turn a blind eye to what’s happening to you.

Toxic relationships are very real, and loving someone who makes you feel anxious and drained all the time is hard. So, if you are in a toxic relationship, you should know how to deal with it. Read below to learn how you can deal with toxic relationships and heal yourself.

How do you deal with a toxic relationship?

First of all, it's really hard to leave someone you love. You don’t have to lie to yourself that it is not. Try to ask yourself what is preventing you from ending your relationship with someone who is making you feel unworthy and miserable. Think why you are waiting to end your suffering while you can.

Here are some ways to deal with your toxic relationship:

Avoid being in denial

First, don't make excuses for your partner's toxic and unacceptable behaviour. Repeatedly feeling the need to justify your partner's actions, attitudes, or remarks to your friends and family is a sign of toxicity. None of the toxic individuals take accountability for what they do and will keep doing it anyway. When you accept their behaviour, your partner merely conveys that it's acceptable for them to carry on with what they do as you would take it anyway.

Don’t think you should 'fix' your partner.

You might have been a saviour for many others in a bad relationship. But sadly, you won’t be able to help or change a person who is unwilling to be a good person. You should know that it is not your job to "fix" this person. Instead, your partner is the only one who can think and change. Most importantly, your partner must take responsibility for their path in change.

It’s okay and valid if you feel heartbroken or frustrated, especially if you have put so much energy into trying to help and change this person. But if you are with your partner only because you want to “fix” them, that is co-dependency.

So, at this point, do you think you know the basis of your relationship? If your partner continues to behave or treat you in a toxic way, would you still be with that person?

Accept that you can’t control the world but only yourself

Always remember you have a choice in your relationship. You can rightfully choose to close a chapter in your life or leave a relationship if that is causing you pain. While ending a relationship can be tough, remember that you are valuable as a person and have options. It's okay to decide that you no longer want to be in a relationship that hurts you. You are always free to decide who you want to spend the upcoming months, years, or your whole life with.

Lean on friends and family for support

When you are finally done with your toxic relationship, you need healthy relationships to heal. This does not mean you should dump your relationship and go out on the dating scene searching for another. This means making time for the individuals who make you feel loved and surrounded by love. That may be your sister, grandfather, mother, or best friend. Spend time with friends who value and support you during difficult times and give you space to rediscover who you are, but don't put pressure on you during and after a breakup.

Final thoughts

Are you reading this article because you are trying to reverse the damages done to you in a toxic relationship? Don’t worry because you are not alone! Remember that you don’t have to face that process alone because you can always get help!