There is no such thing as a perfect relationship, but most couples are able to fall in love and stay in love. However, there are also going to be times when even the happiest of couples hit a bump in the road. When these bumps become the norm, it's time to start watching for the signs of a toxic relationship.
Before we get to those signs, it's important to define what we mean. A toxic relationship is more than just hitting a few bumps in the road, it's the type of relationship that starts to make either of you feel like a bad or inferior person. It's the kind of relationship that continually gets worse instead of better.
Here are a few of the classic signs of a toxic relationship:
1. Your partner is emotionally, physically, or mentally abusive or manipulative.
2. You compromise your principles or make changes that go against your beliefs, just so your mate won't get mad.
3. Your partner tries to make you depend upon them for your basic needs.
4. They take tight control of every aspect of your life and are checking up on you constantly to make sure you are doing what they want.
5. They freely insult and demean you in front of others.
6. You see no evidence of their love for you, even if they are always saying that they do love you.
Toxic people are like a form of poison; they slowly kill your soul and sense of self-esteem. Being in such a relationship is difficult, but getting out of it can be even harder. You may not even realize the situation you are in until it's too late, and then you feel trapped at that point. Why does this happen?
The basic reason why people get trapped in toxic relationships is due to a cycle. The good news is that knowing what the cycle is gives you the opportunity to break free from that cycle. Here are the three main phases:
1. The Honeymoon Phase - This is the stage where you feel happy and that everything is okay. You have a positive outlook on the present and the future and things are going great.
2. The Problem Phase - Now the cracks appear in your relationships. Some of the signs of a toxic relationship have made themselves known, and you are feeling downright awful about. You may not know what to do at this point.
3. The Reconciliation Phase - This is the stage where your partner apologizes and promises to change. They may seem incredibly sincere, but all too often, the entire cycle starts all over again.
Now, it's fair to give somebody a second chance, but how often can you repeat the cycle before it finally breaks you? If you find that you are repeatedly getting caught up in this cycle then you need to seek help and get out of the relationship. Find people who are supportive and make a clean break. It will be scary, but it will be worth it in the long run.
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