How To Live With A Toxic Person

Today, the term “toxic person” is very common, but what does it really mean? From the point of view of psychology, and so that we understand each other, we refer to a person who intentionally hurts us.

It is true that we can say that there are different levels and intensities of toxicity. For example, there are people who have behaviors that annoy us, others who infect us with their toxicity and finally, there are those who can even destroy us emotionally. In fact, we can all come to have, to a greater or lesser extent, relationships with people who have toxic and harmful behaviors such as a jealous partner, controlling parents or envious co-workers.

However, all of us who, in principle, have never had a harmful nature, can end up playing roles with toxic characteristics, especially in environments that are toxic in themselves. Let’s not forget that emotions and behaviors are contagious, both positive and negative.

For example, these types of situations are very typical in the workplace, where there may be a lot of pressure or excessive expectations about workers. In this way, the toxic person generates a very negative emotional atmosphere that ends up affecting all the people who are there in one way or another.

Identify what a toxic person is like

People with toxic behaviors present these characteristics and ways of acting in front of others:

• Manipulative : Your strength is taking advantage of the vulnerabilities of others.
• Rancorous : they are always remembering and reproaching things from the past.

• Not empathetic : they only seek their benefit and do not care what they do to others.
• Envious : all their attention is on what they do not have and others have. Wrong to feel better, they despise people who have what they want.
• Tyrants : they are ordered and commanded to compensate for their low self-esteem and insecurity.
• They are victims : they perfectly play the role of victim, they are installed in the continuous complaint and they blame others for their lack of well-being.

How you can survive a relationship with a toxic person

On certain occasions, we have no choice but to live with a toxic person. This situation requires that you handle certain strategies and that you have a healthy self-esteem, since they are experts in generating a bad environment and awakening negative feelings both in you and in your environment. Therefore, you must be prepared.

These types of people are called toxic because they intoxicate and cause wear and tear and emotional overload in those who have to live and interact with them. Many of the cases appear in the work environment, although they are also frequent in families and in the couple.

• If the relationship you have with the toxic person can be broken, the ideal thing is to cut your losses and end the relationship.

This is not always possible or perhaps you are not willing to eliminate it from your life. In this case, you can try to change their behavior towards you. Although this will only be possible if the toxic person wants to be helped and is able to recognize the damage they do with their toxic attitudes and behaviors.

The way to carry it out would be by connecting with that healthier part of him or her so that he understands how his behavior negatively influences the people around him. If she is capable of being mindful and committed, it is imperative that you value and support her when she recognizes her toxic attitude and strives to change it.

Keys to dealing with and living with a toxic person

The fundamental premise to live with a toxic person is to set limits. You must not stop defending your rights, make yourself respected and mark how far you can go. Otherwise, it will increase its strength at the cost of your vulnerability.

Thus, the most effective tool to prevent you from being “intoxicated” is to love yourself, that is, to value yourself. This will help you set limits and avoid being affected by their toxic comments and behaviors.

How to neutralize toxicity and not get intoxicated

When you have to deal with toxic people you have to avoid any confrontation and always resort to assertiveness. This involves empathizing with the other person and trying to make them understand and empathize with you.

It is important to provide an alternative solution to the conflict. That is, you should let him know that some of his behaviors hurt you so that he can reflect on his behavior and the consequences derived from it.

Finally, when living with a toxic person, you cannot forget to defend your rights and set limits. Because if you don’t, your strength will increase at the cost of your weakness.