Have you ever invested yourself and your time into someone just to later find out that they’re toxic?
Well, sometimes, the people we love the most can hurt us the most. It’s often easy to not notice or question their toxic behaviors.
Sometimes people aren’t in the right place or mindset to be a good friend, or maybe there’s a personality clash that means you bring out the worst in each other.
Other times, though, that person doesn’t want the best for you. And while it’s awful, it’s true.
Here are seven signs that someone in your life may be toxic:
1. THEY TRY TO INTIMIDATE, OR MANIPULATE YOU INTO GETTING THEIR WAY.
Someone who is toxic will often try to make you feel bad for them to get their way.
If you feel like you’re being manipulated or bullied into any choices or actions that benefit others at your expense, then this person is most likely toxic.
It’s important to understand that emotional bullying is another form of toxicity.
If someone uses your care, love, or goodwill against you to gain something for themselves, then that person doesn’t truly have your best interests at heart and will end up hurting you further.
2. YOU’RE LEFT FEELING EMOTIONALLY EXHAUSTED AFTER BEING WITH THEM.
Most encounters we have with those we love and care for should leave us feeling uplifted, loved, or better or the same as we felt when we met them. But with toxic people, you may notice that you often leave feeling drained.
People experiencing emotional exhaustion often feel like they have no power or control and often can feel apathetic towards things or people.
3. THEY ARE JEALOUS OF YOUR SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS
The person manipulating you will often become so jealous they try to target you in unhealthy ways.
Even though they are your “friend,” they hope to see you fail due to their jealous nature.
4. THEY CONSTANTLY SEE THEMSELVES AS A VICTIM.
A toxic person will never see themselves as toxic or as the problem.
If their actions come back to bite them, they will often shift blame and paint themselves as the victims in the situation.
5. THEY’RE OVERLY DEFENSIVE
Toxic people will often make others feel bad to gain control. They will make jokes about you, but they will get upset if you confront or joke about them.
They love to use you as their punchline, but they become overly defensive, when they are called out on their actions or when the tables are turned.
6. THEY GIVE BACKHANDED COMPLIMENTS.
Someone who is toxic will often make you feel bad about yourself. They will make you self-conscious to gain control.
Even when giving a compliment, they will point out something negative.
They feel the need to belittle or humiliate others to make themselves feel more confident and reinstate control.
7. THEY HAVE A SUPERIORITY COMPLEX.
A toxic person believes that they are always the most powerful and the most knowledgeable person in the room.
They never see people as equals and feel like they should be treated like the best.
While these are all great warning signs, the most important thing to do is trust your gut.
Make sure to think about the way that person makes you feel about yourself. And always remember that there are always people out there who will love and care for you without having to bring you down.
