What's your definition of a toxic relationship?

Question

SkyeMind · Accepted Answer

I find that the discussions about toxic relationships and narcissistic partners really have exploded in today's society and, just like discussions about feminism and #MeToo, it can in some areas blow out off proportions.

There is a great list written in 2017 by Asa Don Brown which I really think picks out the toxicity clearly. I'll p post it on the end of this.

What needs to be thought about and evaluated by anyone and everyone is ones own role in the relationship. Is it the partner that's toxic or am I toxic in return? Is anyone of us toxic?

Sadly, people are called toxic for disagreeing, having own will and purpose, for wanting something different. I think it's important to understand that everything that goes against someone's opinion, ways or beliefs are not necessarily toxic. We're all different and may not be perfect for each other, we may not fit together, we may have different goals.. Doesn't mean anyone is toxic or that the relationship is; it just means it is time to move on.

Hope this helps 😊

Unfavorable — Toxic relationships lack the expression of approval or emotional support.

Unhealthy — Such relationships are imbalanced, unfavorable, and unaware.

Unwholesome — They are characterized as lacking any moral, ethical, or positive principles.

Noxious — The harm of toxic relationships is that they are not only unpleasant to be around, but are also poisonous, leading to an emotional, psychological, and possibly physical death.

Hazardous — Toxic relationships are not conducive to life, and are most commonly centered on high-risk behaviors, emotions, and outcomes.

Poisonous — When a toxic relationship becomes poisonous, it is attacking the very nature of the persons involved. It is not uncommon for such poison to prove malicious and extremely painful for all others who encounter the relationship.

Deadly — Unfortunately, toxic relationships can be hazardous for one's health. They have led to the purposeful harm of self and others.

Injurious — Toxic personality types are frequently malicious, conniving, immoral, conspiring, triangulating, and unwilling to recognize the needs or welfare of others.

binarybabe001 · Accepted Answer

Anytime a man or a woman is in a relationship with someone who demeans them, withholds sex or affection to punish their s. o, humiliates them, never apologizes for mistakes or wrong doing, cheats or openly flirts with the opposite sex in front of the s. o, pressures and bullies them into decisions that the s. o is not comfortable with, never defends them when others are rude or directing aggression and the worst is when their boyfriend or girlfriend really doesn't love the person and is constantly trying to change them in different ways. Their way of thinking that they will"fix" or"improve" you into what they want in a mate, when really they should let you go and just find someone else who fits the bill.

Browneye57 · Accepted Answer

Someone that lies and cheats, yells, demands, is controlling or demanding, expectant, disrespectful, argues, or shows narcissistic behavior. That covers pretty much everyone. :)

It's not that complicated. Your duty in dating is to discern whether they are a match, are worthy of your investment in time and emotion. So date. A LOT. Just don't have sex with them all. This way you'll have sufficient experience to actually make the call. And you won't feel like you have no choice, have to settle, or cling to your last chance.

21feminist · Accepted Answer

A toxic relationship is a relationship where the behavior of one partner is emotionally and or physically damaging to their spouse. It's basically the opposite of a healthy relationship we both partners support each other, which contributes to self esteem and emotional energy. A toxic relationship damages self esteem and sucks up emotional energy, like a vampire sipping blood.

Logorithim · Answer

It's one of those things where you know it when you see it. When it makes you miserable, there's lots of fighting and you know you need to get out because it's intefering with your ability to function in everyday life. One you are better off without.

ragequeen · Answer

Pretending to be happy and that everything is okay.

kitty71 · Answer

This is an example of a really toxic relationship and you tell me if it is not or if it is. I have a coworker whose husband cheated on her while she was pregnant with his 2nd child. SHe said she was going to dump him and never forgive him and she wanted to start a new life., Wrong!! After her so called separation, they both started to keep communicating only to argue fight every day for private and personal problems, the guy calls her at work and she calls him too only to start a fight. It is a vicious circle, every single day. Her separation was like 1 years ago and ever since the lady seems to wanted to get back at him for some reason it seems she does not want to let go of him but at the same time she complains about his behavior now that he supposes to have his own life separately, but again the guy looks for her, she looks for him fight on the phone, yell at each other, make up, argue discuss again make up. She helps him financially also because the ex supposed to got himself in some monetary issues and she wants to help him, beause he is the father of her 2 kids and poor him.

Each time she says she is not going to suffer anymore and let the guy deal with his own issues on his own, then she get back at the same vicious circle with the guy. She complains and questions him when her ex does something that she dislikes even if she suppose not to care for him anymore cause they are not a couple anymore. The lady has many assets under her name when she was with him and she still paying debts that acquire while she was with her but the guy does not have now the capacity to pay some debts so she now is the one paying.

She even asked her ex when she was her birthday if he was going to give her some gift.

Everyday over the phone is a constant battle with this coworker and her ex, they argue they made up they discuss, they argue, they make up they fight and they are not even living together and he is suppose to have another lady in his life now but it seems she broke up with him.

She seem not to get over anything regarding her ex, even if she claims she won't forgive him anymore.

bethshepherd · Answer

One that is dishonest, using you, abusing you emotionally and /or physically - maybe taking your money, trying to use you for sex, shouting at you, hitting you, cheating on you, one that takes far more than they give back in return is toxic.

EpicDweeb · Answer

A relationship in which one or more of the participants is done more harm than good by continuing in said relationship. Some are far worse than others. The most noticeable are the ones that continually break a person down without trying to make up for it. Even so, there are plenty of relationships where both parties both believe that they love each other, however if that relationship does more harm than good I still consider it a toxic relationship in some regard.

SaltyBooze · Answer

any relationship that doesn't add to your well-being and/or doesn't have consent in any aspects of it.
as in being stressful, being abusive, being controlling, being forced to do stuff you dont want to, etc, etc, etc...
relationships are to be great for you, not to be a punishment, or a labor.

MsShy87 · Answer

A toxic relationship is any relationship that makes you feel negative emotions more often than positive. Toxic relationships can be full of lies, deceit, drama, and physical and/or emotional abuse. They are the kind of relationships that will add nothing good to your life and will only bring you down.

Cartouk · Answer

A relationship where one person does 100% of the giving and the other merely takes everything they can, then when the first person has nothing left to give they are lambasted with complaints and verbal abuse , or sometimes even physical abuse, but despite all of that the first person won't leave them because they really truly love the second even though the second person is and has nothing worthy of that love and devotion.

Caaarl · Answer

Abusive relationship and toxic relationships are pretty synonymous to me. All abusive relationships are toxic.

Id add relationships that cause a significant emotional drain on either of the members as well.

I'd consider a stituation where one person isn't contributing enough as toxic as well.

Ultimately I think it's any relationship that ends up being really negative to at least one of the partners for any number of reasons.

yogagirl777 · Answer

Co-dependence. Gaslighting. Narcissistic personality disorder. Can't support each other in solo endeavors/ doesn't encourage you to have your own life and friends. Doesn't encourage personal growth and isn't trying for personal growth themselves

kharos · Answer

Not having your partner full opinion to be told, actions to be done and not want to understand his/her logic. Constant arguing and questioning about certain acts. And of course meanwhile hesitating about the love that was actually been bond from the beggining.

glimmershimmer · Answer

A toxic relationship changes you into someone you don’t want to be. All your right have been taken and you know longer feel like an individual.

Blu2th · Answer

Constant drama, you let them walk over you all the time, they cheat and you know about it but don't do anything, they use you for money, they make up excuses for not wanting to meet you, you both hate each other but don't do anything about it, no safety, the other party is a little crazy... just to name a few.

ReachingForNirvana · Answer

A relationship without respect, where there is the presence of all forms of abuse, isolation and neglect.

FýrdracaDócincel · Answer

Whatever the girl's feminist friends tell her counts as one, of course!! :D

"Oh are you CRYING because of something in this relationship? That's abuse!!"
"Did something he said make you the slightest bit sad? Guuurrl you need to get outta there!"
"He put his hands on you? Your man's a fucking pussy!!"
((Let's not even go into how feminists typically try to get rid of words like that but have no problem using them when the shoe fits))

ArrowheadSW · Answer

There can be many aspects of a toxic relationship. One that comes to mind, is one person will make the other person feel as if they are failing in some big way, when they are not. Maybe it is a way to keep the person in a state of humiliation?

thenewgirlll · Answer

It becomes a toxic relationship when you aren't happy with that person anymore.

x_prxncess_x · Answer

If the person puts you down instead of building you up. they talk about you behind your back.

Finchie40 · Answer

Be treated like shit , someone that doesn't make you their priority , someone that only thinks about themselves and is very selfish , plays a victim when they don't get their way

andreasderjuengere · Answer

I find the term 'toxic' to be a trend-word. One of those that everyone uses but with no grasp on what it could exactly be - but is 'sounds good' and makes one look 'informed'. It is meaningless to me, and I use common sense instead.

Natalie11299 · Answer

I don’t expect relationships to be perfect because no relationship is ever ‘perfect.’ But when someone’s unhappy and arguing all the time and has a lack of communication, lying, things like that.

macdaddy36 · Answer

Physical or emotional abuse are both causes for a toxic relationship physical abuse in any form is the bottom line of toxic but emotional abuse can be just as bad and it covers a very large spectrum

MikeHenfer · Answer

A toxic relationship is a relationship where you can't help be drawn in to the person they have you mezmorized under you spell. But under that surface its a bad relationship either He/she is causing hardships in your like from violence to isolations from you family. But no matter how much you know its bad no matter how horible it is all you want to see is the good in that person even if there is none

Tdieseler · Answer

Tons of reasons.  Usually with two things at the core:- Expectations and uncompromising. you can add violence to the top of it as the cherry.

jmh05201 · Answer

Not making the other a priority unless you want something from them. Verbal abuse name calling.

mad_brat · Answer

Existince of Abuse, humiliation, disrespect, no personal space, lack of trust, feeling uncomfortable in expressing an honest opinion.

Lynn0498 · Answer

Any relationship that does more harm than good emotionally/physically.

boggboss · Answer

One where one partner is leaching off the other through some kind

deric_97 · Answer

A relationship that never elevates is a pretty toxic relationship.

BoshoM · Answer

A relation where feeling with another partner is lost

robgilmore · Answer

Relationships are like farts, if you have to force it it's probably shit!

TheDomimantOne · Answer

Someone that doesn't support you, He makes you feel worthless/useless. Stay the fuck away from guys like that!

IlyaTheImpaler · Answer

If I don't have enough sleep and don't have time to read my books

Lance1965 · Answer

No trust, no respect and no love unless there is something to be gained from it whether it be financial or otherwise.

TomatoeUnicorn · Answer

A relationship in which either one or both of the partners have no respect for eachother, abuse or cheat on eachother (abuse can be physical, emotional or verbal).

winterfox10 · Answer

Any relationship where you feel like everything you do is wrong.

Honglitha · Answer

When you guys only hurt each other like dishonest, cheating

lernulo · Answer

When it hurts both members, and there is no end to their pain

floridakristi · Answer

One person taking more than the other. A lot of extra family. Constant abuse.

jessture · Answer

Where one person takes significantly more than they give

2opaz · Answer

Anything that sprouts seeds of doubt about the faithfulness of the other partner. Constant lies Arguments

DiegoO · Answer

A relation where none seem to be happy with each other and where there is no communication.

clampfan101 · Answer

Anything but a long term relationship that wasn’t rushed into.

aditya_evol69 · Answer

A relationship that doesn't respect your worth and degrade the peace of mind!

Lucifer_666 · Answer

A relationship where the man and woman are not satisfied with each other

Justanotherday666 · Answer

A relationship when only one person puts in all the effort into

KhoryESM · Answer

When they keel doing the on again off again thing & argue about stupid things

rahul_24 · Answer

When too much effort is seen as if burden, lying, cheating, dishonest

VV3ZZY · Answer

More than 25 % of social interactions are arguments or negative emotions.

bsuzzle · Answer

One where either party is being torn down instead of building each other up

JesseTheMan · Answer

When it doesn't work and there's too much animosity

Bédis · Answer

Relationship only to enjoy the exploitation of others

asking1234 · Answer

Any kinda relationship that harms you physically/mentally/financially is a toxic relationship

TonyTheX · Answer

When one or both parties keep arguing over nothing, causing emotional or even physical damage to each other, even if they don't mean to do so.

witty-kitty · Answer

Too much jealousy and control. Also, pettiness

SarahsSummer · Answer

one in which pain and anguish are ever present.

harry143143 · Answer

If you don't have peace in a relationship then that relationship is called toxic.

crazyone80 · Answer

Taking your loved one for granted or knowing they will not leave no matter what they do

Slim57 · Answer

No trust, willingness to make it work, loss of the spark, selfishness

shinobitrash · Answer

One where there is no trust, and you feel stagnant as opposed to growing together.

What's your definition of a toxic relationship?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

What's your definition of a toxic relationship?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

We're glad to see you liked this post.