Whether it be your favourite rom-com or a high-profile celebrity romance, toxic traits within relationships are often romanticised in today's society. Being in a toxic relationship might leave you feeling anxious and stressed which can be detrimental both to your mental health and emotional wellbeing.
To raise awareness around this subject, MrQ partnered with relationship expert Ness Cooper at The Sex Consultant to reveal the key warning signs of a toxic relationship and how to leave should you find yourself in one.
Five warning signs of a toxic relationship
There is no room for you to be yourself
The relationship can be very one-sided and controlling making you feel isolated. When you do try and be yourself, your partner may display toxic jealousy.
Boundaries are regularly overstepped
When raising issues around boundaries not being listened to, you are often ignored or your partner reacts negatively in toxic ways such as retaliation.
They put you down even during moments when you deserve praise
They make you doubt your own abilities and this leads to reduced confidence and self-esteem.
They are not dependable when you need them
When they let you down they will make out it is something you did and will not take responsibility for their actions.
Lack of communication or the type of communication
Conversations can often be focused in one direction with elements of control or love bombing. This communication does not allow you to learn about each other on a deeper level, and they will avoid personal questions.
If you find yourself in a toxic relationship how do you leave one?
Plan ahead and build a network you can rely on
This will help you work out what actions you need to take regarding money, where to stay, childcare, and more, for when you are ready to leave.
Talk to someone you trust about the situation
Having someone on your side who knows how the toxic relationship has affected you can really help. If you are struggling to reach out to a friend or family, seek help from a therapist or support charity – these will also keep all conversations and reasons behind them confidential.
Re-establish boundaries and stick to them
Focus on setting up boundaries and rules for when you part ways. This can be even more important if you have joint obligations and commitments that cannot finish even after ending the relationship, such as co-parenting.
Learn to do more things for yourself
Focusing on adding in more things for yourself will help you gain stronger self-esteem and better confidence. This will help you move on from the relationship.
Cut unnecessary communication and interactions
Whilst some forms of communication and interactions may need to continue after the relationship ends, you do not owe them any other forms of interaction. When you give them more opportunities into your new world through unneeded communication and interactions it can lead to you reliving the toxic elements of the past relationship.
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