Relationships have become one of the most critical parts of our lives for a very valid reason. The kind of person you share a part of your life’s journey with plays a massive role in shaping your perspective. A healthy relationship will always make you stronger and push you to become a better person. An unhealthy, or toxic relationship, on the contrary, can put you in an unstable and disturbing mental state. This is why it is best to recognize red flags initially and accept that you are not with the right person. Accordingly, let go of that relationship as soon as possible before it leaves an irreversible mark in your heart.
However, no matter how healthy or unhealthy the relationship has been, its end always leaves us feeling empty. And survivors of toxic relationships particularly need to pay special attention after the relationship. This is because recovery and healing from trauma take time and effort, but it’s not impossible. You can get back up, and you can lead a happy and fulfilling life even after a long-term lousy relationship.
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First Of All, How Do You Identify A Toxic Relationship?
Many people are still unaware of what a healthy relationship should be like. In the name of love and romance, teenagers and adults fall for a damaging relationship without even knowing about it.
This is why we find it crucial to inform what a toxic relationship is like, so you can identify it at an early stage. Here are some signs of an unhealthy relationship:
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- Dishonesty Getting Normalized
- Disrespectful Towards Your Choices
- Emotional and Physical Abuse
- Manipulating Or Gaslighting
- Excessively Controlling
- Avoidance, Negligence, Isolation
- Verbal Abuse
- Jealously, Lack Of Trust
Remember that they all run at different levels, and only you can decide to what level they are acceptable. Building a wall once they pass your level of acceptance will always be in your best interest. So let’s find out how one can recover from a bad relationship.
Before Anything Else, Accept The Situation
When we ask you to accept what happened, we don’t mean normalizing it. What we’re saying is, accept the fact that you have had an unhealthy relationship and that you need to address the damage caused by it. Being ignorant or delusional about the relationship is common, majorly because of the fear of the trauma. However, this will keep you from recovering. Accept that you were part of a toxic relationship that has affected your mental well-being in a way; only then can you work towards healing.
Find Out What Went Wrong
Not many people know of this, but awareness is the key to recovery. Don’t feel uncomfortable about asking yourself questions about your past. You should feel most comfortable discussing your issues with yourself first, before anyone else. After understanding the root cause, you can heal quicker.
Surround Yourself With Positive People
Fighting a bad experience of your life can be intimidating, but it can be a tad bit endurable when you have your friends and family with you. Don’t feel shy about expressing your issues in front of people who have known you for a long time and genuinely want to see you overcome your trauma. Spend time interacting with people who make you feel good about yourself. This will give you a sense of support and encouragement to fight your battle with strength and patience.
Conclusion
Know that these three stages do not make up for the complete answer to your problem, but they will get you started with your healing journey. It is most advisable to seek therapy from a mental health professional because some mind battles need an expert’s guidance. Believe in yourself and know that you deserve to be happy, no matter what you have faced in the past.
