Do you have a toxic person in your life? Draining, unsupportive, and difficult people are one of life’s greatest challenges.
You need to know how you can spot, stop, and deal with the toxic people who come into your life because you deserve to have people in your life that you enjoy spending time with, that support you, and that you love hanging out with.
According to online platform WebMD, if you know someone who’s difficult and causes a lot of conflict in your life, you may be dealing with a toxic person. These people can create lots of stress and unpleasantness for you and others, not to mention emotional or even physical pain.
Psychologists warn that a toxic person is anyone whose behavior adds negativity and upset to your life. They also note that, many times, people who are toxic are dealing with their own stresses and traumas. “To do this, they act in ways that don’t present them in the best light and usually upset others along the way,” WebMD says
Psychiatrists say ordinarily, toxicity in people isn’t considered a mental disorder. However, they warn, there could be underlying mental problems that cause someone to act in toxic ways, including a personality disorder.
Here are some warning signs to watch out for if you think you’re dealing with a toxic person. You may also need to examine yourself to see if you have such traits:
The conversational narcissist
Have you ever been talking to someone who keeps interrupting you? Maybe I should revise that sentence: have you ever been trying to talk to someone who won’t let you get a word in? Conversational narcissists love to talk about themselves—or just hear themselves talk. They don’t ask you any questions, they don’t wait for your responses, and they won’t shut up. In a relationship, these people will end up being completely self-centered, and will never be attentive to your needs.
The strait jacket
The straitjacket is someone who wants to control everything and everyone around them. They want to be in charge of what you do, what you say, and even what you think.
They freak out when you disagree with them, and won’t stop trying to convince you that they are right and you should do what they say.
In a relationship, this person will give you no breathing room and will constantly nag you until you are in complete alignment with them. Be careful, these people will go after your emotional, conversational, and mental freedom until you have nothing left. Get out while you can!
The emotional moocher
An emotional moocher is also known as a “spiritual vampire,” because they tend to suck the positivity out of you or bleed you emotionally dry. These are the people who always have something sad, negative, or pessimistic to say.
In conversations and relationships, they can never see the positive, and tend to bring everyone down with them. If you’re with someone and they only have bad things to say whenever you see them, watch out; it might not get better.
The drama magnet
Some toxic people are magnets for drama. Something is always wrong. Always. And of course, once a problem is solved, another one emerges. And they only want your empathy, sympathy, and support–but not your advice!
You offer help and solutions, but they never seem to want to fix anything. Instead, they complain and complain. In a relationship, drama magnets are victims and thrive in a crisis, because it makes them feel important. If someone is a beacon for adversity, watch out, you might one day become part of the drama.
The JJ
A JJ is a jealous-judgmental person. Jealous people are incredibly toxic because they have so much self-hate that they can’t be happy for anyone around them.
And typically, their jealousy comes out as judgment, criticism, or gossip. According to them, everyone else is awful, uncool, or lacking in some way. If someone starts to gossip jealously about other people, watch out, this might be a toxic person—and you never know what they say about you behind your back.
The fibber
Liars, fibbers, exaggerators… it’s exhausting to have a toxic deceiver in your life. Whether they tell little falsehoods or major lies, it’s impossible to trust a liar in a relationship.
Dishonesty drains us because we are constantly doubting their words. If your intuition is ringing alarm bells, then watch out; get out before you’re lied to.
The tank
A tank crushes everything in its wake. A human tank is always right, doesn’t take anyone else’s feelings or ideas into account, and constantly puts themselves first.
In a relationship, tanks are incredibly arrogant and see their personal opinions as facts. This is because they often think they are the smartest person in the room, so they see every conversation and person as a challenge that must be won over.
They rarely see others as equals—and this can be challenging when trying to form a loving connection. If you feel your ideas are being run over, or you are not being respected, get out while you still can!
Adapted from Science of People & WebMD
