Is Your Relationship Toxic? It could be costing you your health

Everyone has been in a relationship that for one reason or another ended badly. There are relationships that end due to poor timing, differences in fundamental core values, and basic incompatibility. Toxic relationships are deemed as such because they have a very negative affect on one’s emotional and physical health. Several recent studies have concluded that over time the effects of hostility and excessive conflict can contribute to a sharp increase in health problems, including heart attacks. If you are in relationship with a high level of conflict, you may be at increased risk for stress related health problems.

Are you in a Toxic Relationship? 10 Signs Your Relationship May be Toxic:

1. Your partner belittles your accomplishments or is overtly critical of your thoughts, actions, mannerisms, style of dress and even your family members. Your partner may be chronically angry or moody. This is a way to gain power and control by putting you down. Don’t rationalize this very toxic behavior.

2. Your partner suffers from excessive perfectionism. You find that you are always striving for perfection that falls short of their expectations. This can become a power-struggle that can be about anything from making the bed to your sex life. If you frequently worry about whether or not you are good enough for your partner, stress of this type can be very toxic to your overall sense of well-being. Do you really want to spend your life worrying about how well you measure up to someone whom you can never seem to please?

3. Your partner abuses drugs or alcohol. This is a major deal breaker, if you are in a relationship with someone who refuses to get help for their drug and/or alcohol problem. You need to seriously consider leaving the situation. Without professional help, you will live a life of chaos and drama that will always center on your partner’s substance use.

4. Your partner is a bully…either verbally, or physically. Don’t walk, RUN! Your partner needs help, and most likely, you do too. If you are in a relationship with someone who is hurting you either psychologically, or physically, seek professional help immediately.

5. Your partner is addicted to internet pornography. This is a way for someone to opt-out of interpersonal relationships altogether. You will be living with a phantom whom is disengaged from the relationship.

6. Poor resolution of conflict. Conflicts and misunderstandings always seem to linger. You could argue for hours over nothing. A partner who is interested in maintaining a high level of control over your life wants to keep you off-balance. A high degree of conflict, with little or no possibility of resolution, is a way to achieve this goal.

7. Your partner is secretive and frequently disappears. You need to ask yourself what is really going on with this. People who keep secrets usually have very good reasons for doing so. Do you really want to be around to find out what it is? It’s almost guaranteed to make you unhappy when you find out the reason.

8. Your partner is unreliable and frequently breaks promises no matter how small. You can’t plan a life with someone who will not be accountable.

9. Your partner has a lot of unfinished business with an ex-spouse, lover, or children. This is a tough one. If your partner has children, what is the quality of those relationships and how important are they? Does your partner conduct himself/herself with integrity in those relationships? Character issues are not likely to change..

10. Your partner lies to get what they want. A liar is not likely to change. Overt manipulation, or lies by omission, is a major indicator of poor character and a self-serving and exploitative approach to interpersonal relationships. You will spend all of your time trying to be a private detective to uncover the truth.

If you are struggling in a toxic relationship that is harmful to your physical or mental well-being, seek professional health. A good relationship will enhance the quality of your life rather than diminish it. No relationship is worth putting your spiritual, physical, and emotional health at risk