19 Signs You Are In A Toxic Relationship

Letting Go Of Toxic People

19 signs of a toxic relationship.

If you think therapy is for the birds-you don't know Dr. Sherrie Campbell.

Dr. Sherrie Campbell drops truth bombs daily. She is the leading expert on how to cut ties with toxic people. Dr. Sherrie knows what she is talking about. This self-proclaimed "Chrissy from Three's Company doppelganger" may disarm you at first, with her perfectly coiffed hair and piercing blue eyes. The truth is, Dr. Sherrie is an intellect, who empowers her clients and readers with the tools to break free from relationships that are like poison to your soul.

Dr. Sherrie is an author, nationally recognized thought leader, and a regularly featured expert in TV and radio. Her accolades include her tenure as a blogger for the Huffington Post, weekly contributor for Entrepreneur, and Licensed Psychologist with over two decades of clinical training and experience. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2003, where and specializes in psychotherapy with adults and teenagers. If that is not enough, she prides herself on being a connected mother to her teenage daughter. What is more powerful, is that Dr. Sherrie brings to the table a personal account of how she was subject to years of manipulative abuse.

Dr. Sherrie inspired me. Well let's be honest, Dr. Sherrie mesmerized me with her personal story of living with a narcissistic family member. Dr. Sherrie's vulnerable account illustrated her struggle to sever ties, even though she wears the title of leading expert on the subject matter.

Quite simply, Dr. Sherrie was the target of systematic familial bullying. Dr. Sherrie paints a raw portrait of how cutting ties with this "home devil" was a dance she engaged in for years. Her heart-wrenching illustration displays how difficult it is to walk away from a person who has undiluted pleasure in making you feel worthless.

What does a toxic relationship look like?

Lying

Blaming

Criticizing

Manipulating

Overreacting

Invalidating or ignoring your feelings

Undermining your relationship with your spouse, kids, or other relatives

Creating drama or crises

Passive-aggressive behavior (such as the silent treatment, deliberate procrastination, or criticism disguised as a compliment)

Gaslighting (a powerful form of manipulation that makes you doubt your perception of what’s going on)

Refusing to compromise

Yelling, cursing, or calling your names

Belittling your values, beliefs, choices

Gossiping or speaking ill of you behind your back

Making unreasonable demands

Expecting you to help them, but they aren’t available to help you

Threatening suicide or self-harm in order to get their way

Ruining holidays and special occasions

Playing the victim

Not taking responsibility for their own behavior

In Dr. Sherrie's book, But It's Your Family she explains that healing comes with accepting that there are some relationships that are so poisonous that they destroy one’s ability to be healthy and live a full life. This best-selling book spells out clearly what it means to cut ties with toxic family abuse. She teaches you not to just survive but to thrive in the aftermath.

The Answer

Dr. Sherrie espouses the power of silence. When we are in an unhealthy relationship disengagement is key. Disengagement and silence are our superpowers. A toxic person delights in heightened responses. Toxic people adore tears and anxiety. When we disengage and remain silent to their manipulations, there is no ammunition for more hate-filled attacks.

I have the honor of calling Dr. Sherrie my friend. Everytime I am around her, she reminds me of the power of creating boundaries. She understands that letting toxic people permiate your ecosystem will eat at your self-worth and keep you buried in a cycle of abuse.