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  • Our Therapists
  • What We Treat
  • Services
  • About Us
  • Resources
    • Addiction Guide
      • Adderall Guide | Side Effects
      • Alcohol Addiction
      • Benzodiazepines
      • Cocaine Withdrawal
      • Fentanyl Guide | Addiction Treatment
      • Heroin Addiction Guide
      • Meth Guide
      • Online Alcoholics Anonymous
      • Oxycodone Guide
      • Tramadol Guide | Side Effects | Addiction Treatment
      • Xanax Guide
      • How a Substance Abuse Counselor Helps
      • Spirituality in Addiction Treatment  
    • Behavioral Health
      • How can counseling help depression?
      • Treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
    • Bipolar Disorder
      • Bipolar Disorder: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment
      • Is bipolar disorder genetic and triggered later on?
      • Is cognitive therapy effective for bipolar disorder?
    • Children & Adolescents Guide
      • 10 Warning Signs of Teenage Mental Illness
      • Munchausen Syndrome
      • How Does Social Media Affect Teenagers’ Mental Health?
      • Oppositional Defiant Disorder
      • Spotting Types of Depression in Children
      • Teen Suicide
      • Top Tips For Parents
      • Video Game Therapy for ADHD
      • What is a Residential Mental Health Facility for Teenagers Like
      • Why Is Mental Health on the Rise Amongst Teenagers?
    • Is Social Media Ruining Our Self-Esteem? 
    • Mental Health Guide
      • COVID Counseling to Battle Mental Health Issues
      • Guide to Anxiety Medication
      • Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
      • High Functioning Depression | Signs | Symptoms
      • How Can We Prevent Mental Illness in Youth?
      • How Do You Help Someone with Avoidant Personality?
      • How Does Online Counseling Work for Mental Health?
      • How Can a Mental Health Counselor Help
      • Mental Breakdown
      • Schizoid Personality Disorder
      • Postpartum Depression
      • Types of Mood Disorders
      • The Toll of Grief and How to Cope with It
      • What are The Major Affective Disorders?
      • What Cognitive Psychology Teaches Us About How We Think
      • What Is Clinical Mental Health Counseling
      • What are mental health symptoms you should never ignore?
      • What is Bipolar II Disorder? Symptoms and Treatment
      • What is the Difference Between Manic and Hypomanic?
      • What is schizoaffective disorder?
      • Is seasonal affective disorder (SAD) a mental illness?
      • What is substance induced mood disorder?
      • Is Depression a Permanent Mental Disorder?
      • What is the prognosis for Major Depressive Disorder?
    • Marriage Counseling | Benefits
    • Pandemic Related Issues
      • COVID Counseling to Battle Mental Health Issues
      • Work Stress Post-Pandemic
      • Shocking Growth of Anxiety During the Pandemic
    • Relationship Issues
      • How to deal with toxic relationship?
      • How does a toxic relationship affect your mental health?
      • What is gaslighting in a relationship?
      • What is the best way to help a partner who has trust issues?
      • What’s the best way to work out relationship problems?
      • 10 ways to improve communication in relationships
    • Spirituality in Addiction Treatment  
    • Therapy
      • Can I See a Psychiatrist Without a Referral?
      • DBT Therapy for Adolescents
      • DCBT- Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
      • Deep Brain Stimulation to Treat OCD
      • Do I Need a Referral to See a Therapist?
      • Family Therapy: Definition, Types, Techniques, and Efficacy
      • How Can Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) Help Mental Disorders?
      • EMDR Therapy for Mental Health Conditions
      • Psychiatrist vs. Psychologist
      • Is Therapy Covered by Health Insurance?
      • Psychodynamic Therapy vs CBT
      • Psychotherapy
      • SMART Recovery
      • What Can Psychologists Treat
      • What is Group Therapy
      • What is Internal Family Systems Therapy
      • What Is the Role of the Counselor in Family Therapy
      • What Is Psychoanalysis
    • Trauma Bonding With Intimate Partner Violence
    • Teen Mental Health
      • Can a Minor Go to Therapy Without Parents Permission?
      • Teen Co-Occurring Disorders
      • What are the signs of depression in adolescents?
      • warning signs of suicide in adolescents
      • Mental Health Benefits of Exercise in Teens
      • How is the pandemic affecting mental health in teenagers?
    • Types of Disorder
      • Anti-Social Personality Disorder
      • Autism Spectrum Disorder
      • Avoidant Personality Disorder
      • Bipolar Disorder Symptoms | Causes | Diagnosis
      • Diagnosing and Treating an Adjustment Disorder
      • Histrionic Personality Disorder
      • Intermittent Explosive Disorder
      • Paranoid Personality Disorder
    • Veterans Guide
      • Functional Medicine for Military
      • Service Dogs Help Veterans with PTSD
    • Process Addiction
      • Gambling addiction
      • How do you know if you have an addictive personality?
      • What is Impulse-Control Disorder?
      • Process Addiction

How to Deal with Toxic Relationships?

It’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms of toxic relationships so you or a loved one can learn how to deal with toxic relationships.

What is a Toxic Relationship?

A toxic relationship is harmful to both parties involved. It can be characterized by a lack of trust, respect, and communication. In a toxic relationship, one or both partners may feel constantly belittled or put down.1

Characterizing a Toxic Relationship

There may be feelings of jealousy, possessiveness, and manipulation as well. One partner may try to control the other through threats, violence, or gaslighting. Toxic relationships damage both parties (ranging from physically, mentally, to emotionally) and can lead to various problems, including mental health issues, missed work or school, and substance abuse.2

Emotionally and physically damaging behaviors characterize a toxic relationship. It can be challenging to identify a toxic relationship because it often starts as something that seems fun and exciting, like almost any new relationship does. However, over time, the negative patterns of behavior become more and more pronounced, leading to feelings of insecurity, anxiety, and even depression.3

What Makes a Relationship Toxic?

There are a few different things that can make a relationship toxic. One is a lack of trust, respect, and communication. In a healthy relationship, both partners should feel like they can trust each other with their thoughts, feelings, and actions.

However, in a toxic relationship, one or both partners may feel like they constantly have to defend themselves. There may be possessive or manipulative behavior occurring as well. Partners may feel like they must walk on eggshells, and this behavior could lead to ongoing emotional or even physical abuse.

Healthy Relationships vs. Toxic Relationships

In a healthy relationship, partners should feel like they are equals working together towards a common goal. However, in a toxic relationship, one partner may feel like they are constantly being belittled or put down. There may be a lot of criticism and judgment, with one partner feeling like they can never do anything right.

Signs of a Toxic Relationship

There are several signs that you or a loved one may be in a toxic relationship, and it is essential to seek professional help if you find yourself in one. The following are the signs to look for include:

  • Lack of support
  • Toxic communication
  • Envy or jealousy
  • Controlling behaviors
  • Resentment
  • Dishonesty
  • Patterns of disrespect
  • Negative financial behaviors
  • Constant stress
  • Ignoring your needs
  • Lack of self-care
  • Hoping for change
  • Walking on eggshells

Is it Possible to Fix a Toxic Relationship?

It is possible to fix a toxic relationship. However, it isn’t always easy to do so, and you or your loved one may end up being hurt during the process. Despite that, it may be worth it to help fix a toxic relationship. Some ways to attempt to fix one include: 
  • Acceptance of responsibility
  • Willingness to invest
  • Shifting from blaming to understanding
  • Being open to outside help if needed
Not all toxic relationships can or should be fixed, but knowing what to do in order to try and fix one is an important step in the process.
toxic relationship

How to Deal with Toxic Relationships

Toxic relationships can leave you feeling drained, exhausted, and stressed. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s essential to take steps to protect yourself both emotionally and physically.

In order to deal with a toxic relationship, here are some things to take note of:

  • Don’t dwell on the past
  • View your partner with compassion
  • Start therapy
  • Find support
  • Practice healthy communication
  • Be accountable
  • Heal individually
  • Hold space for the other’s change and vulnerability

Also, to deal with toxic relationships, it is essential to know the difference between toxic and healthy behaviors so you can steer away from actions that can be harmful to yourself or others.

Toxic Behavior

  • Most everyone participates in at least one behavior that could be harmful to ourselves or others. These are toxic behaviors. They might be coping mechanisms we've developed to deal with difficult life circumstances, or they could be habitual ways of relating to the world that results in us feeling bad about ourselves.

    Whatever the case may be, it's essential to be aware of our toxic behaviors so that we can start to make changes. Some common toxic behaviors include feeling:
  • Insecure
  • Jealous
  • Self-centered
  • Selfish
  • Distrusting
  • Abusive
  • Disrespectful
  • These behaviors can become ingrained, and it can be hard to break out of them. Starting to go to therapy or knowing that you may be hurting yourself or others are the first steps in combating these behaviors.

Healthy Behavior

  • Healthy behaviors help us feel good about ourselves and make us happy. They are also behaviors that don't hurt others and allow us to resolve conflict or other events peacefully and with other people’s feelings in mind. Some common healthy behaviors include being:
  • Secure
  • Loving
  • Positive
  • Selfless
  • Encouraging
  • Trustworthy
  • Compassionate
  • Respectful

How to Leave a Toxic Relationship

The decision to leave a toxic relationship is never easy. It’s often hard to see the situation for what it is when we’re in the middle of it. If you find yourself in a toxic relationship, remember that your safety is paramount and that you deserve to be treated with respect. However, in other to leave a toxic relationship, here are some things to consider:4
  • Get support from a therapist or domestic violence advocate
  • Open up to loved ones
  • Bring a friend when you talk to your partner
  • Cut off communication
  • Take care of yourself first and foremost
Get Help For Toxic Relationships at Pacific Beach Health

At Pacific Beach Health, we understand that toxic relationships can affect your mental and physical health. If you’re in a relationship that feels unhealthy, you may be dealing with toxic behaviors like manipulation, jealousy, possessiveness, or control.

These behaviors can leave you feeling drained, anxious, or even scared. If you’re ready to get help for your toxic relationship, our team of experts is here to support you. We’ll help you identify the unhealthy behaviors in your relationship and develop a plan to address them.

We’ll also provide you with the tools and resources you need to build a healthy, lasting relationship. If you’re ready to get help, contact us today. We support you on your journey to a happier, healthier life.
Opportunities for Wellness

If you or a loved one find yourselves in a toxic relationship, it’s essential to be honest with yourself. If you’re in a relationship causing you more pain than happiness, it’s time to take a step back and reassess things. It’s also important to set boundaries. If someone in your life constantly puts you down or makes you feel bad about yourself, it’s time to draw the line. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

If you’re struggling to deal with a toxic relationship on your own, there’s no shame in reaching out to a friend, family member, or therapist for support. Dealing with unhealthy relationships can be difficult, but by taking care of yourself and setting boundaries, you can protect yourself from emotional harm and start living a happier life.

References:
  1. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0306624X211049187
  2. https://www.health.harvard.edu/addiction/substance-addiction
  3. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_handle_a_toxic_relationship
  4. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336890622_Unhealthy_romantic_relationships_among_young_persons_Implication_for_social_work_practice_in_Nigeria

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