Aftermath Of A Toxic Relationship

A toxic relationship is characterized by behavioral patterns and dynamics that cause emotional, psychological, or even physical harm to one or both parties involved. Here are some common characteristics of a toxic relationship:

• Lack of healthy communication : Ineffective or aggressive communication can be a sign of relationship toxicity. This includes insults, constant criticism, sarcasm, and the inability to express needs openly and respectfully.
• Control and manipulation : One partner attempts to control the other person, whether through emotional manipulation, coercion, or intimidation. They may use tactics such as emotional blackmail to get their way.
• Jealousy and possessiveness : The constant presence of jealousy, insecurities and the need to control the other’s movements are signs of a toxic relationship. This can manifest itself in the limitation of personal freedom and autonomy.
• Inequality and lack of respect : In a toxic relationship, there may be a power imbalance and a lack of mutual respect. One partner may constantly belittle or belittle the other.
• Physical or verbal violence : Physical or verbal aggression is a clear sign of a toxic relationship. No type of violence is acceptable in a healthy relationship.
• Emotional dependence : The relationship is based on a strong emotional dependence, where both partners feel that they cannot live without the other, even if the relationship is harmful.
• Lack of personal boundaries : In a toxic relationship, personal boundaries are blurred or do not exist. One or both partners may feel like they don’t have room for their own individual needs and desires.
• Breakup and reconciliation cycles : Toxic relationships often experience repetitive cycles of breaking up and making up. Intense arguments can be followed by periods where the couple attempts to repair the relationship, only to fall into negative patterns again.
• Denial and lack of responsibility : Problems in the relationship may be denied or not accepted by one of the partners. Lack of accountability for harmful actions can perpetuate toxic patterns.
• Deterioration of mental and emotional health : Toxic relationships can have a significant negative impact on the mental and emotional health of the people involved. Anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems can be consequences of a toxic relationship.

All of these are actions and behaviors that can occur in a toxic relationship and that can greatly undermine the person in it. Therefore, in the next section we will see what consequences a toxic relationship leaves behind.

The consequences of a toxic relationship can affect various aspects of a person’s life, both emotionally, mentally and physically. Here we bring you the most common consequences of a toxic relationship:

1. Guilty feeling : an emotion that arises when a person perceives that they have violated personal norms or values ​​and feels responsibility for it.
2. Fear : an emotional response to a real or perceived threat. It may be a normal reaction, but when it is excessive or irrational, it can contribute to mental health problems.
3. Low self-esteem : a negative and devalued evaluation of oneself, with feelings of not being competent, valuable or worthy enough.
4. Depression : a mood disorder that involves persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, changes in appetite and sleep, and lack of energy.
5. Social isolation : a situation in which a person distances themselves from social interactions, either voluntarily or due to external circumstances.
6. Shame : an intense, unpleasant emotion associated with the perception of personal failure or a violation of social norms.
7. Helplessness : the feeling of lack of control or power to change a situation, which can contribute to feelings of hopelessness and apathy.
8. Apathy : lack of interest, motivation, or enthusiasm toward activities that were previously pleasurable or meaningful.
9. Somatizations : manifestation of emotional or psychological problems through physical symptoms, such as headaches, digestive problems or muscle tension.
10. hopelessness : the belief that things will not improve in the future, which can contribute to apathy and lack of motivation.
11. Anxiety : an emotional response to situations perceived as threatening, which can manifest in physical and mental symptoms. Discover the Effects of anxiety on the body.
12. Difficulty concentrating : inability to focus attention on a specific task or activity, often associated with mental health problems.
13. Panic attacks : Sudden, intense episodes of fear or discomfort, accompanied by physical symptoms such as palpitations, sweating, and difficulty breathing. In this article you will find more information about Panic Attacks: symptoms and treatment.
14. sexual dysfunctions : Problems in sexual response, which may include lack of desire, arousal difficulties, or performance problems.
15. Obsessive-compulsive disorders : Patterns of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that can significantly interfere with daily life.
16. Substance abuse (psychotropic drugs and OH) : problematic and harmful use of substances such as alcohol or psychotropic medications.
17. Eating Disorders : Conditions that affect eating habits and perception of body weight, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. Discover more about Eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia and obesity.
18. Sleep disorders : Problems related to the quantity and quality of sleep, which may include insomnia, hypersomnia, or REM sleep disorders.

These terms are consequences of a toxic relationship, both emotional and psychological, and it is important to seek professional support if they are experienced persistently or significantly.

Having been in a toxic relationship can cause trauma for the person. The possible violence experienced in the relationship can generate doubts about one’s own capacity. In these cases, we can find consequences of a toxic relationship such as the following:

Damaged self-esteem

Self-esteem is a powerful human need. This is basic and makes an essential contribution to the life process; It is essential for normal and healthy development, in addition to having survival value. Not having positive self-esteem can decreases resistance to facing adversity of the life. In a toxic relationship it is one of the first things that can be damaged.

Even so, it should be noted that self-esteem is not a static or stable trait over time, but rather a dynamic index and subject to change. Here you can see How to improve self-esteem.

emotional kidnapping

Feeling that it was not you who controlled your emotions since you had another person who controlled them for you. This can lead to a lack of self-confidence, the emergence of convictions of not being worthy as a person and high levels of anxiety.

Learned helplessness

Sometimes, the toxic relationship also causes the person to adopt an attitude of resignation and passivity, since in the time that has passed in the relationship they learned that no matter what they did, they could not escape that harmful situation. This phenomenon is called learned helplessness. In this article you will find more information about Seligman’s theory of learned helplessness.

All of this can mark future relationships, causing the person to adopt an attitude of fear of the future For many people this is a source of anguish, since they have the feeling that they cannot get out of the memory of the relationship.

When the consequences of the toxic relationship go further, last over time and become something daily and paralyzing in the person’s life, it is most likely that we will find ourselves facing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an anxious disorder. caused by an extremely stressful event, such as continued abuse, rape, torture, etc.

PTSD symptoms

The main symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder caused by a toxic relationship are:

• Relive the trauma through painful memories”flashbacks”.
• Persistently avoid stimuli associated with trauma.
• Weakening of reactivity general of the person, more apathy.
• Lack of interest in important activities.
• Feeling of detachment : as if the person were an observer of their own body or mental process.
• Anxiety and depression : They are usually associated with symptoms such as apathy, helplessness, hopelessness and feelings of guilt, which make the decision to seek help or take appropriate measures even more difficult.

Battered woman syndrome

Also called complex PTSD. In this case, the impact of trauma goes beyond a list of symptoms and encompasses the entire psychological functioning of the person.

Prolonged exposure to violence in all its forms (physical, psychological, environmental, sexual, verbal, and economic) in contexts of abuse is capable of affecting the personality, identity, and relationships of the person affected by gender violence. Here you will find more information about battered woman syndrome.

This article is merely informative, at PsychologyFor we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Aftermath of a toxic relationship we recommend that you enter our Couples Therapy category.