You’re Toxic and I’m Done: 10 Simple Strategies for Handling Difficult Family Members
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We’ve all dealt with a toxic relationship at least once in our lifetime, whether it is a significant other, a friend, or even just a neighbor. But what if it’s a toxic family member?
It can be challenging, and you may have to make some hard decisions to make.
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Just Stop
One Redditor was straight to the point, “Stopped making an effort & gone very low contact as a result. I now only engage with them when absolutely necessary/unavoidable. Also, I never talk about them to other family members.”
No Expectations
A happy user added, “It’s amazing how freeing it is to remove all expectations and not feel like you need to make an effort with people who don’t actually care about you.”
Cut Them Out
A most liked comment read, “Cut them out of my life. It’s tough but necessary for my own well-being.”
Another Redditor put it very simply by saying, “Cut ties with them.”
Never Argue
One Redditor wrote, “Never argue with a crazy relative – at a distance, no one can tell you apart.”
A second Redditor added, “Never argue with an idiot. They’ll drag you down to their level of stupidity and beat you with experience.”
No Contact
A user wrote, “Went no contact with my mom in 2001. Best decision I ever made.”
Another user added, “Try not to go near them or just tell them you’re not going much.”
Avoid Topics
One person added, “I’ve made a conscious effort to avoid certain topics, and if they come up out of my control, I leave the room.”
Another person wrote, “I don’t initiate communication, I don’t ask any questions or offer any information about my life, and generally make myself seem as boring as possible. So far, it’s worked with my narcissistic alcoholic brother.”
Create Boundaries
A popular comment was, “Drew my boundaries — moved out, not accede to their demands, and remind them of my drawn boundaries.”
Another popular one was, “I stopped talking to them and removed them from my social media.”
Blocking
One Redditor added, “Blocked messages and calls, forever. I don’t care if it’s my father or my aunt, or my grandma. I’m tired of the “family first”. When they die, MAYBE I’ll come by so that I can express myself and feel listened to.”
Another Redditor replied, “Block and avoid.”
Therapy
A user wrote, “Therapy and lots of self-help books and exercises.”
Resist Violence
One honest Redditor replied, “Haven’t spoken to them in 4 years and resisted the urge to throw a lit Molotov cocktail through their window.”
Redditors were quite honest about how they dealt with toxic family members. Do you have any tips or techniques that have worked?
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As a full-time working mom of three, I know what it’s like to feel like life is out of balance and out of control.
While I don’t have it all figured out, I am committed to sharing helpful tips and tricks with other mommas who are ready to break free from negativity, ditch mom guilt, & finally, live life on their own terms.