Say NO to toxic relationships

The healthy intimate relationship is a pure luck. Love and compatibility between any couple forms the basis for relationship to withstand. Intimate relationships give you roots and last for life-time. If they turn sour, the very ground beneath your feet is shaken and the effects are hard-hitting with a big impact on you as a person. When trust between loved ones is broken the relationship cannot survive causinglong-lasting effect over a person. It can be stated that a toxic relationship can change you forever.

Living in the era of social media, the enhancing social connectivity renders chance for one to fall in love with ease and go for a marriage. However, there are many serious issues in inter-personal relationshipsthat have remained unresolved. Many times toxic relationships are too difficult to handle. It might be a case of domestic violence or physical and emotional abuse. If the relationship becomes toxic in one or many ways, it can bring a long-lasting change in an individual. Some relationships cannot survive these toxic changes and may end up altogether or gradually end after a lot of negotiation. Both the partners suffer in any toxic relationship but more so only one becomes the victim.

Take the instance of Sujatha (name changed) has recently separated from her husband of ten years. She suffered a lot and was in a toxic relationship as her husband was an alcoholic. She says, “I was in a toxic relationship for 10 long years. I changed as a person, became bitter about many things and I was unable to accept these changes coming over me. I realised that it was because of the abusive marriage that I had for such a long time. Something was seriously going wrong with me and felt I was not the same. The relationship had ruined me and made to forget the jovial and care-free nature in me.

I went to a counsellor as well who advised me and gave me lots of tips on life as such. After my divorce proceedings were over, I was free. Freedom from an abusive relationship worked wonders for me. I gradually grew positive, joined a school as a teacher. I was back to my friendly and inter-active self, in control of my feelings.”

Well, a toxic relationship can ruin the self-esteem of an individual and bring about lots of negative changes in him or her. Recently the movie Secret Superstar reflected beautifully the changes that occur in the mother, ‘Ammi’ of the Superstar who changes from a submissive housewife who is petrified of her husband into a bold woman who fights back for her daughter and herself. After years of toxic relationship with her husband, she is no longer scared of him and finds her inner strength, giving full support to her daughter.

Toxic relationships must be ended and give way to new relationships that are healthy and nurture the body, mind and soul. Bringing positivity in life is a must and this happens only when toxic relationships end, giving way to a new beginning!

By: Shaili Dhagat