Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Toxic people. May 18, 2010.


“You have the right to quit Toxic People. (They're contagious.)” - Dr. SunWolf

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Is there someone in your life that makes you feel automatically sick when they're around? Maybe they attack and criticize you outright, or maybe they simply complain, grumble and whine about everything and anything, raining on every parade.

Toxic people can be parents, bosses, co-workers, neighbors, friends – even your spouse. If you’re feeling depressed or anxious, toxic people can exacerbate your symptoms. They can add to feelings of worthlessness and despair. They certainly don’t help if you are feeling suicidal.

Luckily, there are things you can do. Some toxic people, you can walk away from and choose not to associate with anymore. A friend, a neighbor, even a relative, can be told in a polite way that you can’t deal with them anymore, for the sake of your own mental health.

It’s harder if the person is your boss, parents, husband, or wife. Then you may need to practice emotional disengagement. There are books and therapies to help with boundary-setting.

Your mental health is your number-one priority. Without it, you are no good to yourself or anyone else. Do you want to allow toxic people to jeopardize it?

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