7 Common Warning Signs of a Toxic Relationship

A toxic relationship can suck the life right out of you. Some people have a long history of getting themselves into toxic relationships and staying far too long. Oof. If you know, you know. 

What exactly is a toxic relationship? Here’s one explanation from the book Toxic People (1995) by Dr. Lillian Glass:

“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.”

Does that sound like any of your past or present relationships? Oftentimes, folks who get themselves into toxic relationships can find a pattern or a trend that seems to be present in all of their relationships. This isn’t the time to shame yourself, by any means, but more to be curious as to why those patterns might exist. 

Consider these commonalities found in toxic relationships:

1. Controlling behavior. Toxic relationships often have an element of control. Does your partner always have to have everything their way? 

● Does she insist on going with you when you spend time with your friends?

● Does he always need to be the center of attention?

● Does she refuse to accept blame even when it’s obviously her fault?

● Does your partner limit whom you’re allowed to see or when?

2. Distrust. Demanding to know where you are and with whom is a prime example of mistrust. Are you really going to spend time with your mother? He might just drive by to see if you’re telling the truth. Oftentimes, distrust is rooted in past relationships where the individual has been hurt. Other times, it is seated in their personality and needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.

● Does your partner doubt everything you say? Is your word never good enough?

● Does your partner track your location with a phone app?

● Does your partner quiz you to try to catch you in a lie?
● Do you have to justify yourself all of the time?

3. Justifying your partner’s behavior. Do you have to explain away your partner’s behavior to your friends and family, even though you know deep down there’s no justification for the way your partner acts? Is your partner rude and disrespectful to you in front of your friends and family? It is not your job to justify your partner (or your kids) behavior. They are their own person and you want to be dating an emotionally mature adult, not an emotionally immature child.

4. Physical or verbal abuse. Any abuse is unacceptable. If your partner is abusing you in any way, respect yourself enough to leave the relationship. There is no justification for this level of behavior. More than likely, though, you won’t be able to recognize it at first. This is where it is incredibly helpful to have a community of individuals you trust and love (and vice versa) who can speak truth into what they are seeing and perceiving in the relationship. Don’t date (or be married) on an island.

5. Passive-aggressive behavior. Does your partner forget to pick you up? Does he forget to water your plants while you’re out of town? Does she keep shrinking your cotton dress shirts by over drying them? Do you receive a lot of excuses from your partner in general? Or perhaps you are the one exhibiting passive-aggressive behavior. Passive-aggressive behavior comes from not being able to articulate or verbalize your internal world, your thoughts and feelings. It comes out through negative actions and this is something to call out and be aware of if it is happening routinely without notice or change.

6. Lying. This needs little explanation. Does your partner lie to you? Do you find yourself telling lies just to keep the peace? Do you lie in order to avoid spending time with your partner? For example, do you tell your partner you have to help your mother, but you actually go sit at the bookstore for a few hours?

7. There’s a relationship scorecard. Are you reminded on a regular basis about how you’re not pulling your own weight? Are past mistakes mentioned regularly?

● Are you told that you have to wash the dishes because your partner took out the trash? Are you told this even though you’re swamped with work, and he’s just watching TV?

Most people in toxic relationships know their relationships aren’t ideal, but they justify and rationalize their doubts away. Many of them would rather be in a poor relationship than no relationship at all. An emotionally healthy person views being alone as better than being in a negative relationship. A healthy relationship can be challenging to find, but it’s not an impossibility.

If you’re in a toxic relationship, extract yourself from it or schedule your first free session with one a St. Petersburg, FL counselor today! You’ll be relieved to be moving on from the current relationship routines.

p.s. Did you know that we have online courses for your mental health? We love providing educational tools that will help you and your relationship come into a better understanding of who you are and how to effectively communicate. Check it out! More courses are always being added…

Cheering You On,