Is there a person in your life who sucks the happiness out of you? Maybe somebody that’s always bringing you down? Sometimes we are able to notice these people right away, but other times we aren’t so lucky. We become close to these people, with hopes that they will change. But, once a toxic person always a toxic person. A toxic person can be defined as somebody who embarrasses you in social situations so that they can have all the attention, a person that is constantly betraying your trust, somebody who belittles you and makes you feel bad about yourself, and a total negative Nancy. We often find it hard to break ties with these people because 1) they’re “close friends” of ours, 2) they hang out with the same group of friends as you, and 3) we feel obligated to keep them around. It shouldn’t be this way.

I’ve had my fair share of toxic people in my life. I found that most of them were people I used to hang around with in high school (not all of them). I got into arguments and fights with them during our high school years, but I didn’t cut them out of my life because for the most part we all hung around with the same people and saw each other everyday at school, so I felt obligated to remain friends with them. But, soon after high school ended, it was a lot easier for me to get them out of my life. Since then, I’ve cut out numerous toxic people from my life and I couldn’t feel better about it. When you do cut them out of your life they will react in one of two different ways: 1) they will act like they could care less and leave it at that or 2) they will make you feel bad for ending the relationship. Don’t allow them to take control of your life, do what makes YOU happy.

There are many traits that a toxic person inhabits:

They play the victim

When a toxic person doesn’t get their way, it’s the end of the world. They will blame everybody but themselves. They always try to convince others that their situation/problems/life/etc. is worse for them versus other people. These kinds of people will constantly ask for you to give, but they will never give in return. Be careful feeling sorry for them.

They inhabit manipulative traits

Toxic people are selfish and don’t care much, if it all, for others. They will manipulate you using their controlling behavior. They will turn situations around and make you the one or anyone else to blame, and of course, never accept responsibility of their actions. If you ever find yourself feeling guilty, ashamed, or wrong for your actions because of a toxic person, CUT THEM OFF.

Toxic people are very egotistical

If you find you have a person that is in your life that thinks they are the best at absolutely everything, they probably inhabit an arrogant trait. Arrogant people think they are the best, smartest, most good-looking, etc., at EVERYTHING. They make it seem like nobody is anywhere near how amazing they are. Arrogant people feed off of the pain they cause on people who are supposedly “their friends.”

They are selfish

Toxic people tend to always think of ONLY themselves. It doesn’t matter how much you give to this person, they will hardly ever give back to you in return. These kinds of people don’t care about your happiness.

They are a bad influence

These kinds of people will push you to do things that you are uncomfortable with, and they will not take no for an answer. If you do say no they belittle you by saying things like "you're lame" or they tease you. The next time this happens they will bring up the past time, it never fails.

If you are finding yourself in a situation where you are continuously giving to another without any effort in return, it is most likely a corrupt relationship. If these traits apply to anybody in your life, you might want to reevaluate your relationship with that person and decide if they are benefitting your life. It is best to try and keep yourself from letting these people in or get too close. They are called “toxic” for a reason.