&lt;div&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;How can we move forward?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;css-0&quot;&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Repairing a toxic relationship will take time, patience, and diligence.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;This is especially the case,&amp;nbsp; given that most toxic relationships often occur as a result of longstanding issues in the current relationship, or as a result of unaddressed issues from prior relationships.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Here are some steps for turning things around.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Don&amp;rsquo;t dwell on the past&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Sure, part of repairing the relationship will likely involve addressing past events. But this shouldn&amp;rsquo;t be the sole focus of your relationship moving forward.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Resist the temptation to constantly refer back to negative scenarios.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;View your partner with compassion&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;When you find yourself wanting to blame your partner for all the problems in the relationship, try taking a step back and looking at the potential motivators behind their behavior.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Have they been going through a hard time at work? Was there some family drama weighing heavily on their mind?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;These aren&amp;rsquo;t excuses for bad behavior, but they can help you come to a better understanding of where your partner&amp;rsquo;s coming from.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Start therapy&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;An openness to therapy can be a good sign that things are mendable. Actually following through on this can be key to helping the relationship move forward.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;While couples counseling is a good starting point, individual therapy can be a helpful addition.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Find support&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Regardless of whether you decide to try therapy, look for other support opportunities.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Maybe this involves talking to a close friend or joining a local support group for couples or partners dealing with specific issues in their relationship, such as infidelity or substance misuse.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Practice healthy communication&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Pay close attention to how you talk to each other as you mend things. Be gentle with each other. Avoid sarcasm or mild jabs, at least for the time being.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Also focus on using &amp;ldquo;I&amp;rdquo; statements, especially when talking about relationship issues.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;For example, instead of saying &amp;ldquo;You don&amp;rsquo;t listen to what I&amp;rsquo;m saying,&amp;rdquo; you could say &amp;ldquo;I feel like you aren&amp;rsquo;t listening to me when you take out your phone while I&amp;rsquo;m talking.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Be accountable&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Both partners must acknowledge their part in fostering the toxicity.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;This means identifying and taking responsibility for your own actions in the relationship. It&amp;rsquo;s also about being present and engaged during difficult conversations.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Heal individually&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;It&amp;rsquo;s important for each of you to individually determine what you need from the relationship and where your boundaries lie.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Even if you feel like you already know what your needs and boundaries are, it&amp;rsquo;s worth revisiting them.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;The process of rebuilding a damaged relationship offers a good opportunity to reevaluate how you feel about certain elements of the relationship.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Hold space for the other&amp;rsquo;s change&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Remember, things won&amp;rsquo;t change overnight. Over the coming months, work together on being flexible and patient with each other as you grow.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #000000;&quot;&gt;Abuse vs. toxicity&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #000000;&quot;&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #000000;&quot;&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #000000;&quot;&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Recognizing Abuse&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
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&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Toxicity in a relationship can take many forms, including forms of abuse. There&amp;rsquo;s never an excuse for abusive behavior. You&amp;rsquo;re unlikely to change your partner&amp;rsquo;s behavior on your own.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Abuse comes in many shapes and sizes. This can make it hard to recognize, especially if you&amp;rsquo;ve been in a long-term, toxic relationship.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;The following signs suggest physical or emotional abuse. If you recognize any of these in your relationship, it&amp;rsquo;s probably best to walk away.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;This is easier said than done, but we&amp;rsquo;ve got some resources that can help at the end of this section.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Diminished self-worth&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Your partner blames you for everything that goes wrong and makes you feel as if you can&amp;rsquo;t do anything right.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;You end up feeling small, confused, shamed, and often exhausted. They may do this by patronizing, dismissing, or embarrassing you in public.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Chronic stress and anxiety&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;It&amp;rsquo;s normal to have periods of frustration with your partner or doubts about your future together. But you shouldn&amp;rsquo;t be spending significant amounts of time worrying about the relationship or your safety and security.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Separation from friends and family&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Sometimes, dealing with a toxic relationship can cause you to withdraw from friends and family. But an abusive partner may forcefully distance you from your support network.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;For example, they might unplug the phone while you&amp;rsquo;re talking or get in your face to distract you. They may also convince you that your loved ones don&amp;rsquo;t want to hear from you, anyway.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Interference with work or school&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Forbidding you from seeking employment or studying is a way to isolate and control you.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;They may also attempt to humiliate you at your workplace or school by causing a scene or talking to your boss or teachers.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Fear and intimidation&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;An abusive partner might explode with rage or use intimidation tactics, such as slamming their fists into walls or not allowing you to leave the house during a fight.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Name-calling and put-downs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Insults aimed to humiliate and belittle your interests, appearance, or accomplishments are verbal abuse.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Below are some examples of what things a verbally abusive partner might say:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&amp;ldquo;You&amp;rsquo;re worthless.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&amp;ldquo;You can&amp;rsquo;t do anything right.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&amp;ldquo;No one else could ever love you.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Financial restriction&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;They may control all the money that comes in and prevent you from having your own bank account, restricting access to credit cards, or only giving you a daily allowance.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Gaslighting&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Gaslighting is a technique that makes you question your own feelings, instincts, and sanity.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;For example, they may try to convince you that they&amp;rsquo;ve never abusive, insisting it&amp;rsquo;s all in your head. Or they may accuse you of being the one with anger and control issues by acting like the victim.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Threats of self-harm&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Threatening suicide or self-harm as a way to pressure you into doing things is a form of manipulation and abuse.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Physical violence&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Threats and verbal insults can escalate to physical violence. If your partner is pushing, slapping, or hitting you, it&amp;rsquo;s a clear sign that the relationship has become dangerous.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

15 Signs of Toxic Relationship, Is your Relationship Toxic?

15 Signs of Toxic Relationship, Is your Relationship Toxic?

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