Are Unhealthy Relationships and Toxic People in Your Life?

Last Updated on Tuesday, 23 November 2010 11:55 Written by Consuelo Serbia Tuesday, 31 August 2010 19:00

We want happy healthy friends and friendships. We want the people in our lives to be positive because that makes life better, unfortunately we all have friends who are negative. There are toxic people who cause you to have an unhealthy relationship with them and may affect your relationships with others. You may recognize some of these remarks, but they are signs of toxic people.

Are you going to wear that?

A judgmental friend may try to appear helpful, but instead they make you feel like every decision you make is very wrong. If they do not attack your decisions, they make snide remarks. "That restaurant you picked is ok, I guess." You show them what you are going to wear, and they say "Are you going to wear that? I would not!" The comments are degrading.

Instead of going there, what if we go here?

The manipulators are people who get what they want. They will twist things around until their desires are met. If it hurts you that is not their problem. Their needs, wants and desires are the only things that matter to them. Yet slowly they destroy your beliefs and self-esteem by twisting everything against you.

Of course, I really look sexy today, right?

Everyone loves someone who is narcissistic, just ask the narcissist. It does not matter what you need or want. These people are more obvious than the manipulators in getting what they want. But they are very toxic people, they will require all your attention be on them and their needs while draining you of energy emotionally even physically.

I suppose you could feel that way.

You tell a passion filled story only to be met with an insincere comment. A great joke is met with a polite chuckle. This person does not really care about you and unfortunately leaves you feeling unfulfilled. So unfortunately you may seek more friends who are the same. This shallow meaningless relationship is toxic because it grows almost uncontrollably.

Did that hurt your feelings?

This disrespectful person knows it hurt your feelings. The problem is they do not care, if anything they live to hurt your feelings. Many people like this turn it around on you, they are the grown up version of playground bullies, shoving your feelings in the mud. Your privacy is not a concern. Respecting your property, your boundaries or anything else of yours is not in their agenda.

Can I change unhealthy relationships into healthy ones?

Most of these personality types will push limits. The more you allow them to get away with, the more they will continue. Some of these people do not think what they are doing is wrong, so all you can do is avoid situations where they will act worse. Your health can be damaged by toxic people draining your happiness and damaging your self-esteem. Avoid toxic relatives as much as possible. Replace unhealthy friendships with healthy and you help yourself and the people who matter in your life.