Sometimes family members are the people in the world with whom you can just be ‘you’, other times, not so much! Family dynamics are complicated, and patterns of behavior often stem back generations. If you find yourself in a situation with a toxic family member it is hard – very hard. Unlike other relationships that may end naturally or by choice, there is a sense of obligation to persevere with family relationships that can be hard to navigate.
What do you do if you find someone in your family toxic? What if you find interacting with them so bad it’s unhealthy for you? Everyone needs support at times, and we are all affected by the stressors of daily life. Here are 15 suggestions for ways that may be effective for you to handle toxic family members.
Take Care of Yourself
It is nearly impossible to find solutions for how to deal with toxic family members if all your thoughts and energy are going to the other person. Take care of yourself. Self-care isn’t selfish. You really do need to look after yourself so you are in the best possible emotional, physical and mental space to deal with the hard stuff. Eat healthily and do activities you enjoy that will take your mind off the problem.
