What is a toxic relationship? An emotionally toxic relationship occurs when one part of the couple adopts a dominant behavior and the other part does not You can do nothing to avoid that dominance, because you are or believe you are in a situation of inferiority subordination. The part that exercises the abuse has imposed a hostile and fearful climate in the relationship that makes it difficult to express and live in a healthy way with the other person. From Psychology-Online, we want to publicize the consequences of a toxic relationship.
What behaviors can we observe in a toxic relationship?
- Lack of assertive and empathetic communication.
- Humiliate and ridicule to the other person, whether in public or in private.
- Attack her psychologically: attack their self-esteem and their way of being. For example: "You're crazy! You're hysterical, no one will put up with you like I do!”.
- Physical violence: hitting, physically imposing yourself so that the person feels threatened.
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Environmental violence: after an argument that breaks objects in the house or knocks on the table while it is being argued.
- Sexual violence: force to practice practices that the couple does not want.
- Jealous and controlling behaviors about the other person: constantly asking where she is, who she is going with and even isolating the couple from their social circle.
This article describes the 15 types of violence.
All of these are actions and behaviors that can occur in a toxic relationship and that can greatly reduce the person who is in it. Therefore, we will see what consequences we can have after having been in a toxic relationship.
Being in a toxic relationship can be traumatic for the person. The possible violence experienced in the relationship can raise doubts about their own capacity in many areas of their life. We can find situations such as:
Damaged self esteem
Self-esteem is a powerful human need. This is basic and makes an essential contribution to the process of life; it is essential for normal and healthy development, as well as having survival value. Not having positive self-esteem can decrease our resistance to coping with life's adversities. 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 subject to change. Here you can see how to improve self esteem.
Emotional kidnapping
Feeling that you were not the one who controlled your emotions since you had someone else who controlled them for you. This can lead to a lack of self-confidence, the appearance of convictions of not being worth as a person and high levels of anxiety.
Learned helplessness
At times, the toxic relationship has also been able to cause the person to adopt an attitude of resignation and passivity, since that in the time elapsed in the relationship he learned that whatever he did, he could not escape from that situation harmful. This phenomenon is called: learned helplessness. In this article you will find more information about the Seligman's learned helplessness theory.
All of this can mark future relationships, making the person adopt an attitude of fear about her 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 life of the person, it is most likely that we are facing a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The post traumatic stress disorder it is an anxiety disorder caused by an extremely stressful event; such as continued abuse, rape, torture, etc.
Symptoms of PTSD
- Reliving the trauma through painful memories "flasbacks”.
- Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with trauma.
- Weakening of the general reactivity 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.
In addition, it is often associated with high levels of anxiety and depression and adaptation difficulties. Symptoms of depression such as listlessness, helplessness, hopelessness, and a sense of guilt make the decision to seek help or take appropriate action more difficult.
Battered Woman Syndrome
Also called complex PTSD. In this case, the impact of the 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, economic, etc.) in contexts of abuse is capable of causing a intense affectation in: the personality, identity, relationships and in all areas of the psychological functioning of the woman victim of gender violence. Here you will find more information about battered woman syndrome.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online 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.
