Some relationships are better than others, but is yours toxic?
Dr. Lillian Glass, a California-based communication and psychology expert who says she coined the term in her 1995 book Toxic People, defines a toxic relationship as “any relationship [between people who] don’t support each other, where there’s conflict and one seeks to undermine the other, where there’s competition, where there’s disrespect and a lack of cohesiveness.”
Some people are toxic, and there’s no fixing them. They may suffer from mental disorders, and they may not be aware of the trouble they cause or the reasons for doing so. Life is too short to waste years in an unhappy drama driven situation. You have to decide if the bad outweighs the good.
The most serious warning signs include any form of violence, abuse or harassment, which should be dealt with immediately. But in many cases, the indicators of a toxic relationship are much more subtle.
The first, and simplest, is persistent unhappiness. If a relationship stops bringing joy, and instead consistently makes you feel sad, angry, anxious or “resigned, like you’ve sold out,” it may be toxic. You may also find yourself envious of happy couples.
If you suspect you are in a toxic relationship. perhaps you should come in for a consultation with Steve Hair.
Steven W. Hair, focuses his practice as a divorce attorney, family law attorney in Clearwater, Palm Harbor, and Safety Harbor.
For more information, visit our website at www.FamilyLawClearwater.com
or call (727) 726-0797.