How to Identify and Remove Toxic People From Your Life

We want you to think about the people in your life: your friends, family, and those you work with. Now, we’ll assume that most of these people bring positivity into your life, but is there anyone that tends to be nothing but negative? Maybe they’re consistently difficult or just unpleasant? You may be dealing with a toxic person – and you may want to consider changing or ending the relationship. But before you do anything too drastic, let’s discuss.

Identifying a Toxic Person

First and foremost, you have to know what you’re dealing with. Here are some common signs of toxicity.

Manipulation of the Emotional Sort

Emotional manipulation often comes in the form of passive-aggressive insults or put-downs. A toxic person may joke about something they know you’re sensitive about or withhold affection to irritate you. If you think someone is emotionally manipulative, you are likely dealing with a toxic person.

Master of Gaslighting

Have you ever expressed your thoughts or feelings only to be told you’re being dramatic or lying? This is a toxic behavior known as gaslighting, which refers to someone denying your reality.

Energy Drainer

If you’ve ever felt mentally, emotionally, or physically drained after being around someone because they create that much stress and negativity, that’s some toxic behavior.

Unsupportive

Does this person cheer for you when something goes right, or do they brush it off? Do they seem supportive or like they could care less? If someone around you seems to be overflowing with insincere optimism, they may be toxic.

Insincerity at Its Finest

If you receive an apology from a toxic person, it will likely be insincere at best. Toxic people often like to flip the script to make it seem like everything was your fault.

How to Remove the Toxicity

If you are dealing with a toxic person and the time has come to remove them from your life, here are some pointers.

Distance Yourself

Sometimes the best approach is to create a barrier between you and the person. You can do this by cutting off all contact with them, unfollowing them on social media, and not seeing them unless you have to.

Their Crisis Is Not Your Emergency

Toxic people tend to think that you’ll automatically be there for them in a crisis. A toxic person also isn’t above exaggerating an emergency, and it’s not your responsibility to be their shoulder to cry on.

Set Hard Boundaries

Set clear boundaries and stick to them. Once you decide to end the relationship, don’t give in.

You Can Forgive, But You Won’t Forget

Let go and move on, but don’t forget how that person made you feel and how their words and actions affected you.

Choose Your Battles

Never put it past a toxic person to resist once you’ve cut them off. Keep in mind that they can be relentless, but you are no longer obligated to engage with them.