We all come across that one person in our lives – the one who leaves behind a bad taste in our mouths. Maybe that manipulative boss who will always make you feel worse. A co-worker who is always complaining. Or perhaps a friend who always disrespects you. This might seem like yet another inconvenience in your life. However, these types of toxic people can be dangerous for your mental well-being and overall health.
Here are some ways you can avoid toxicity in life and live with positivity.
Feel more confident about yourself
Do not let toxic behaviour affect your peace of mind. If someone constantly puts you down or disrespects you, do not let that draw you in. They may put forward their personal struggles to justify the verbal or emotional abuse towards you. But that does not mean you have to accept it and start feeling low about yourself.
Suppose, there is a friend who knows about your erectile dysfunction disorder. But instead of being your support and suggesting the best online ED treatment, he constantly mocks you. Such behaviour is unacceptable and you should be upfront in letting that friend know how you feel. Do not allow such actions to affect your confidence, so you start feeling worse about yourself.
The more you play into the reality of these toxic people, the more it will affect your mental peace. Instead, be confident of who you are and do not allow toxicity to impact your positivity.
Maintain distance
There are toxic people who will always reach out to you only to disrespect you, hurt you, or control your situation. Do not allow this. If possible, maintain an emotional and physical distance from them. Initially, this may be difficult, but it is worth your time, health, and overall well-being.
Let go of your grudges
Did you know that over 50% of the total population in the US will be diagnosed with a mental disorder or illness at some point in their life?
One of the primary reasons behind this not letting go of your grudges against toxic people who continue to hurt you. Often, in toxic situations, you tend to simply smile or nod just to avoid an angry outburst. However, this only encourages the other person and also results in pent-up emotions.
Before toxic interactions hinder your mental well-being, let go of your grudges. You can always try humble disagreements and explain how you feel about the situation. Practice defence mechanisms that will enable you to better manage emotional distress under toxic situations. This will make you feel more relaxed and ensure mental peace.
Set boundaries
It requires powerful force to handle toxic people around you. Otherwise, they will dig their claws deeper into you and make you feel guilty. Therefore, establish boundaries and learn to say “no.” Be strong and move away from the situation to avoid scenes. Stick to your boundaries and maintain a distance because toxic people are likely to sneak back.
Bottom line
Not all discourteous or abusive interactions are toxic. It is important to identify the signs of a toxic person, set your boundaries, and engage in respectful disagreements wherever required. Finding ways to handle these toxic people will ultimately ensure improved health and well-being.
Dennis Relojo-Howell is the managing director of Psychreg.
