Have you ever wondered what is regarded as someone who is toxic, be it in friendships, romantic relationships or even family relations? It can be very difficult at first glance to identify this.
Health-focused publication, WebMD defines a toxic person as “anyone whose behaviour upsets you and adds negativity to your life. It may just be their personality and many times toxic people become that way because of their upbringing or life experiences.”
Here are 5 signs to look out for in toxic people:
“Friends who continuously judge and criticise you on your clothes, your music taste, your romantic relationships, your hair, your makeup (the list goes on), is a sign that your friend simply doesn’t like you for being you,” states Caroline Strawson, Trauma-Informed Therapist.
The therapist also claims that when a friend is all nice to you on the outside but continuously gossips about you to everyone else, it’s a significant warning flag for a toxic friendship.
The above-mentioned health hub states that you are constantly in situations where it seems as though you are being manipulated and the way they act towards you confuses you every time.
According to a licensed psychotherapist, Babita Spinelli, “Any sort of dishonesty, whether it’s deceit, lying, or general secrecy is a sign of a toxic person.”
Toxic people will go to great lengths to avoid taking responsibility for anything and never account for their actions, the psychotherapist adds.
The expert in psychotherapy further adds that toxic people are likely to create power dynamics in the relationship. They prefer relationships in which they are in control and can control others around them rather than ones in which has mutual respect.
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