A toxic person is someone whose behavior and impact on others can be negative, destructive, or even harmful, psychologist Nadezhda Narutovich told Lady Mail.ru. She added that the presence of such people can cause stress, aggression, and fatigue in others, and gave some practical advice on how to avoid or at least minimize all of this.
Set clear boundaries
Be firm in your boundaries, do not allow the person to contact you for a long time if it is unpleasant for you. Do not be afraid to leave the room abruptly or end the conversation in any way (for example, you can always say that you are busy).
Avoid emotional traps
Don’t give in to the toxic person’s emotional manipulation and guilt trips. Be firm in your decisions.
Express your needs clearly and specifically.
Avoid ambiguity, say everything you think. For example, you can say that a conversation on a particular topic is unpleasant for you, you would not like to continue it. Believe me, a toxic person will not think for you about your feelings and needs. Such people, as a rule, are not empathetic and do not even understand that they can hurt you.
Seek support from others
When communicating with a toxic person, you can start to doubt yourself, your rightness and adequacy. Talk to friends, colleagues or professionals (for example, a psychologist) to get support and understanding.
Keep calm
In conflict situations, avoid aggression, arguments and quarrels. Try to look at the situation from the outside, focus on your own emotional health.