20/02/2025
When to cut ties with family members and stop normalizing toxic behavior. Tips to self-care.
It's never easy to cut someone out of your life. And when it comes to family, it is particularly difficult to accept that family members can create so much stress, anxiety and pain that you can't keep a relationship with them.
Here are some behaviors you see in Toxic People!!
Lying
Blaming
Criticizing
Manipulating
Overreacting
Invalidating or ignoring your feelings
Creating drama or crises
Gaslighting (a powerful form of manipulation that makes you doubt your perception of whats going on)
Refusing to compromise
Belittling your values, beliefs, choices
Gossiping or speaking ill of you behind your back
Playing the victim
Not taking responsibility for their own behavior
Refusing to apologize, and if they do, it's shallow, coerced, or fake
People can change, but toxic people rarely do. They lack self-confidence and take no responsibility for their actions. And because they do not see how their behavior hurts you, they refuse to change. Instead, they blame you and expect you to meet their demands.
Toxic behavior can also be passive aggressive by posting memes and quotes. For example, I recently saw a quote that said it is..
"It is very sad when family members stop speaking to each other. The day will come when they will regret it. That day is called a funeral."
While this holds some truth, this is not true for all families. Particularly for those who have to deal with toxic family members, and if you do not see it in this light or perspective, you normalize toxic family culture.
Everyone has every right to separate themselves from toxic circumstances, and as a family member, it does not give you a free pass to do so.
When we normalize or treat toxic behavior as if it were typical, we imply it is acceptable. We sug!