| The concept of a toxic relationship is becoming more | | | | effects of emotional abuse. |
| widely discussed and accepted. There are some | | | | 2. Your partner engages in drug and alcohol abuse |
| relationships that have a draining and negative aspect | | | | and isn't interested in getting help and stopping. If |
| that seems built in to the structure of the dynamic | | | | your partner is regularly pursuing the next high or |
| between the partners. Sometimes, there are individual | | | | drink, he or she isn't engaging in your relationship and |
| pathologies or issues that drive toxic behavior - | | | | is putting you on a back burner. His or her behavior |
| sometimes it is magnified in certain combinations | | | | might be erratic due to the intoxication and impaired |
| between two people. There several signs that your | | | | judgment may lead to hurtful behavior. You might be |
| relationship has hit a toxic level. Here are 3 signs that | | | | tempted to try to help or rescue your partner, but |
| your relationship is toxic: | | | | this sets up a very destructive dynamic that |
| 1. There is abuse of any kind in the relationship. This | | | | removes consequences from your partner and leaves |
| may be physical and/or emotional. If you are | | | | you frustrated, martyred, and angry over having to |
| experiencing physical abuse, or fear it could happen, | | | | bail out your partner repeatedly. |
| please contact a domestic violence shelter, or find a | | | | 3. Your partner cheats on you repeatedly. Though an |
| counselor who specializes in this issue to get | | | | affair does not have to be the end of a relationship, |
| assistance. It is an extremely dangerous situation to | | | | if the pattern continues, there is no foundation to |
| be involved with a physical abuser, and particularly | | | | build a relationship upon. Without a recommitment to |
| when you are leaving the relationship. Emotional | | | | the relationship, effort toward better communication |
| abuse is also very devastating. If you are being put | | | | and accountability, the betrayed partner is in a world |
| down or controlled, and end up feeling inferior, | | | | of suspicion, pain, and cycles of betrayal. |
| incompetent or crazy, you might be experiencing the | | | | |