Are you in a toxic relationship? Mental health expert's tips to set boundaries

Toxic relationships with family, friends or colleagues can be quite taxing for people of any age. At times, it can even push a person into mental breakdowns. One shouldn't hesitate to get out of or stay away from a relationship if it becomes a source of stress and fear rather than a source of support and happiness. Psychologists often advise people to realise the negative effects of toxic relationships and the importance of setting boundaries.

Here's how toxic relations can affect your mental health:  
Lack of confidence: Constant blaming and criticism can make a person feel inferior and underconfident. 
Anxiety: Getting severely anxious, worrying about the next step in your relationship, or anticipating quarrels. 
Depression: People get depressed when they lose happiness in a relationship.  
Physical difficulties: Sleeplessness, headaches and digestive issues due to severe stress.                 
Loneliness: Trying to isolate oneself from social relations to avoid interacting with a toxic partner. 

Setting boundaries                 
Recognise it first: Recognise the toxic trait in your partner that is damaging you emotionally.       
Explain: Calmly explain to the partner with toxic traits, the behaviours that are not acceptable for you.               
Control: Work at gaining control over the time and energy that you spent in the relationship.                         
Distance: Be mentally prepared to keep complete distance from a toxic relationship, if required.               
Professional help: If the above do not help, seek the help of a qualified therapist to handle toxic relationships, so that they don't affect your mental health. 
(The writer is a consultant psychiatrist at the SH Hospital, Kottayam)