Getting Out Of A Toxic Relationship
There is nothing worse than being in a situation where you feel trapped and unable to get out. For some people, this happens during caving exercises. For others, it’s their everyday life where they are trapped in a relationship that doesn't feel as if it will ever end. If you happen to be questioning whether you are in a toxic relationship right now, the chances are that you are. It means that your instinct is piquing its interest and you are noticing small red flags. Noticing these early is crucial to them not becoming bigger red flags that take over your life.
When you do notice that you are in a toxic relationship and there are children in the equation, use this Child Custody Guide to help you through what to do once you get out of it. The first step, however, is getting out of it. Below, we’ve put together some of the things that you can do if you have noticed that the red flags have taken over and you’re ready to get out.
Don't deny it. You’ve been seeing the warnings and the red flags, and yet here you still are. Your choices may be limited but acceptance is the first step when you are in a relationship with a toxic individual. You have to accept that you will never get on with them and things won’t change, so don't deny the fact you are stuck in a toxic relationship. Accepting the fact the relationship is toxic can help you to think more clearly of how you can get out of it.
Talk about your feelings. When it comes to talking about how you’re feeling, you need to talk to your partner about how you feel about your current situation. If you’re noticing those red flags, point them out. It can go either of two ways - either they will listen to you and appreciate that you have come to them to discuss something important, or they’ll shut you down. Their reaction should dictate whether you should stay or go. If they listen and accept their toxic traits, you might be able to fix this through therapy. If they don't, run.
Detox. It takes time to let go of someone you have cared about, and if you’re co-parenting this can make detoxing much harder. You need to be able to sever your feelings for the person that you loved before the red flags and the toxicity, because that person isn't real. A narcissist is a good mirror; they’ll mirror your good traits and reflect them back to you until you’re comfortable. After that, they’ll stop bothering to reflect and they’ll start to project their flaws onto you.
Develop yourself. Self-development and belief are two important things that you need if you plan to get out of a toxic relationship. You need to get out of it both physically and mentally, and you have to do everything that it takes you to do that. It’ll take everything, too.
