<p>People who consistently undermine or cause harm to a partner (whether intentionally or not) often have a reason for their behavior, even if it’s subconscious. </p><p>Maybe they were in a toxic relationship, either romantically or as a child. Maybe they didn’t have the most supportive, loving upbringing. They could have been bullied in school. They could be suffering from an undiagnosed mental health disorder.</p>

What makes a relationship toxic

<p>Is any <i>relationship between people who don’t support each other, where there’s conflict and one seeks to undermine the other, where there is competition and there is disrespect.</i></p>
                <p>A toxic relationship is consistently unpleasant and draining for the people in it, to the point that negative moments outweigh and outnumber the positive ones.</p>

A toxic relationship

<p>The most serious warning signs include any form of violence, abuse or harassment, which should be dealt with immediately. But in many cases, the indicators of a toxic relationship are much more subtle: <i>Persistent unhappiness, negative shifts in your mental health, personality or self-esteem, feeling like you can’t talk with or voice concerns to your significant other.</i></p>

Warning signs

<ul><li><span>If you feel that you’re in physical danger, you may need to involve the authorities. </span></li><li>If the harm is emotional or mental, you’ll have to decide if it’s possible to work through the issue. </li><li>If underlying triggers such as depression or trauma are influencing one or both individuals’ behaviors, therapeutic or medical treatments may help. </li></ul>
                  
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What you should do

How to tell if you're in a toxic relationship with a romantic partner, friend or family member and what to do about it.