We all make bad choices from time to time. But letting those choices snowball into addictive behaviours or completely derail your life is a problem. Learn to identify toxic behaviour in yourself and others, so you can address it before it spirals out of control.
Toxic behaviour may seem like a simple concept at first, but the more you become immersed in it and the more people you discuss it with, you’ll realize that it’s a complex term. Living with such behaviour means that your behaviours negatively affect your mental, emotional, or physical health or the health of other people around you. Toxic behaviour is often rooted in a dysfunctional relationship and is often the result of trauma, abuse, and neglect.
For example, toxic behaviour within a marriage can have severe consequences, leading to instances of abuse, domestic violence, and harmful communication patterns. Such destructive dynamics can ultimately lead to the dissolution of the marriage, inflicting emotional and psychological distress upon all parties involved. Consequently, it is not uncommon for individuals to choose divorce as the path to liberation from a toxic marriage, often seeking the guidance and support of a Family Law Attorney Phoenix (or elsewhere) to facilitate this process promptly and effectively.
Likewise, toxic behaviour is not limited to personal relationships and can also manifest in professional settings, such as in an office environment. Instances where managers or colleagues resort to verbal or physical intimidation to exert control over their subordinates can foster a toxic atmosphere within the workplace. This toxic environment significantly impacts team morale, leading to decreased productivity and hindered progress.
Toxic behaviour comes in many forms. It can be minor, such as missing out on lunch, or major, such as bullying and sexual violence. Such things also occur in workplaces, as in homes and schools. No one likes to be on the receiving end of toxic behaviour, but there are plenty of people who think that inflicting it on others is okay.
Often, toxic behaviour occurs without us realizing it. And it’s not uncommon for it to affect loved ones, too. It may be the result of mental health issues like depression or anxiety, but it may also be the result of poor self-esteem or even personality disorders. Either way, it’s important to identify and address the behaviours.
Here Are Some Examples of Toxic Traits
A lack of empathy for others.
Often, people either unintentionally or intentionally harm others. And most often, it is due to a disconnect or a lack of empathy for others’ experiences. Toxic behaviours include anything perceived as hurting another. As a therapist, I see a lot of behaviours that hurt others. Often, it is a lack of empathy, which is the inability to understand or feel what another person is feeling or going through.
Rudeness.
Rudeness is always bad, toxic and insidious. It is a phenomenon that lurks in everyone, often without us even knowing it. It can sneak into our lives, eating away at our confidence and eroding our relationships.
Rigidness.
Rigidity is when people rigidly stick to their point of view or way of doing things, even in the face of changing circumstances. This rigid thinking can cause us to act in ways that may be harmful to ourselves and others.
Cheating.
Cheating can take many forms. It can range from minor, such as exaggerating your qualifications for a job, to major crimes like embezzlement or adultery. As you might infer, the latter is more serious in legal and moral terms. They might also have a tendency to be unreliable and often disappear in times of need. Although such people can be found using the services of Bond Rees Detectives or similar professionals, after your dealings are settled with them, it’s often best to cut them out of your life.
Judgmentally.
Judgmentally describes people who hold negative beliefs about others but are quick to criticize and judge themselves. These thoughts may originate in childhood or adulthood, from family members or friends, or from popular culture and the media. Toxic judgment typically includes feelings of failure, self-blame, loneliness, and self-loathing, and these negative feelings often result in self-sabotage behaviours and relationship problems.
Negativity.
Negativity is an epidemic in our society. And for those who are observant enough to recognize the signs of it in yourself, chances are you recognize it in those around you as well. So, how do you know when something is negative or toxic? There’s really no definitive answer, but it mostly has to do with how you feel after engaging with whatever it is.
The toxic behaviours are destructive behaviours that, when untreated, result in mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, and in some cases, even suicide attempts. The behaviours do vary from one person to another, and what makes one toxic behaviour different from another is the cause. The trigger for poisonous behaviours can be something that causes a person to lose control, making them act irrationally, either towards themselves or those around them.
Toxic behaviour is behaviours that can damage us. It can cause us to feel stressed, depressed, anxious, angry, confused, and powerless. It can make it hard for us to make decisions or stick to plans, and it can make us feel isolated or disconnected from others. It can affect our physical health, our relationships, our emotional health, and our ability to enjoy life.
Often, we see toxic behaviour in ourselves. We copy others, we engage in negative self-talk, and we blame people or situations for things going wrong. It is destructive to our life and us. It often shows anger, blaming, complaining, gossiping, and passive-aggressiveness.