Are You In a Toxic Relationship?

A toxic relationship can be difficult to spot. A toxic relationship is one where one or both partners are not able to express themselves healthily and communication often leads to arguments or hurt feelings. It is important to recognize the signs of a toxic relationship so that you can take action if necessary. Here are four signs that may indicate your relationship is unhealthy.

1) Lack of Communication: One of the most common signs of a toxic relationship is a lack of communication. If you and your partner find it difficult to talk openly about your feelings, thoughts, and emotions, then this could be an indication that something deeper is wrong in the relationship. If you feel like you’re walking on eggshells when trying to express yourself, then it’s time to take a step back and reevaluate the situation.

2) Controlling Behavior: Another sign of a toxic relationship is controlling behavior from either partner. This could range from telling the other person what to wear, what to say, or how to act in given circumstances. It often starts out as something small before evolving into more severe instances over time and it can later become more extreme forms of emotional manipulation or even physical abuse. If either partner exhibits any kind of controlling behavior, then it’s time for immediate action before things get worse.

3) Gaslighting: Gaslighting is another sign of toxicity in relationships. This involves one partner manipulating their spouse into feeling like they’re “losing their mind” by questioning their reality and making them doubt themselves or their decisions. Often you will experience gaslighting when you try to communicate your hurt that was caused by your partner. All of sudden, you hear things like, “You are just being overly sensitive,” “There you go again, you being negative about everything,” or “Are you sure that is what happened? You know you don’t have a good short term memory.” This type of behavior can be incredibly damaging and should never be tolerated in any type of relationship – platonic or otherwise!

4) Lack of mutual respect: The last sign of toxicity in relationships is a lack of mutual respect’s opinions and thoughts. If one party constantly belittles, insults, or disregards the other ‘s point of view this can create an environment where neither side feels heard nor respected. It’s important that both individuals feel respected within a healthy partnership, so if this isn’t the case, it may be time for an intervention.

A healthy relationship requires communication, respect, and trust. If these elements are lacking, you won’t be able to build a healthy relationship with anyone. It’s important to recognize these signs early on so that appropriate steps can be taken toward rectifying them before they spiral out-of-control. Take action now if any of these warning bells sound familiar!

Want to learn more? Or are you ready to start your healing journey? Please schedule a free 15 min consultation call with one of our therapists.