Have you ever been manipulated by a loved one? Have you ever felt used and abused? Have you ever suffered at a toxic worksite? Have you avoided family gatherings due to harmful family members? Have you been a victim of narcissistic abuse? Did you or your child(ren) experience parental alienation?
If you answered in the affirmative to any of these questions, then unfortunately you’ve experienced TAR – a toxic abusive relationship.
What is a toxic abusive relationship?
A toxic relationship is – at the very least – harmful. Some signs of a toxic relationship are blatant and obvious — physical abuse, repeated infidelity, inappropriate sexual behavior — but other traits are more difficult to detect. Disrespect, dishonesty, and controlling behavior are some of the hidden hallmarks of abuse. Examples of these behaviors include your partner frequently cutting you down, questioning your decisions, criticizing your choices of friends, and keeping you away from people who support and advocate for you. As a result, your mental health will suffer, as depression and anxiety result in self-isolation. Your abuser becomes your only ally, and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
While a relationship does not have to involve abuse to be considered toxic, all abusive relationships are toxic. This abuse can manifest in many ways, including emotional, verbal, economic, sexual, and physical. To clarify:
- Your partner tries – and mostly succeeds – to possess and control you.
- Your manager threatens to cut your pay and constantly criticizes your work.
- People that you thought were in your corner accuse you of not fighting enough for your marriage.
- Your partner calls you names and publicly humiliates you.
If you’re experiencing any type of abuse, please understand that you don’t deserve to live that way. Reach out for support immediately.
It’s Hard to Leave a Toxic Abusive Relationship
Sometimes it seems impossible to break free of toxic relationship patterns. People might feel trapped financially or worry about their children. Here are a few reasons why people find it difficult to get out of a toxic relationship:
- In abusive relationships, one partner is likely to be extremely manipulative towards the other. This manipulation frequently involves making physical, emotional, or financial threats if the other person talks about leaving. As a result, the victim might be afraid to leave their partner.
- For couples who have children together, it’s challenging to leave because of the perceived negative impact on the children. There may also be concerns about custody.
- There may be lingering feelings of love – regardless of the level of abuse – keeping someone in a relationship.
- If one partner is financially dependent on the other, that could complicate the logistics involved in leaving.
How to Leave a Toxic Abusive Relationship
- Build a safety net. If you’re thinking of calling it quits, make a plan for how you are going to deal with the transition. Where will you stay? What possessions will you need to bring? Don’t do this haphazardly. This process should be well thought out.
- Let someone know your plans. Confide in a family member or friend so that they can help you with the process. If you feel threatened, inform the local authorities that you are going to need help.
- Seek professional help. Leaving and recovering from a toxic relationship will take effort and time. Reach out to support groups or counselors experienced in relationship issues. A therapist can be a great resource to guide you and hold you accountable for creating and meeting your goals. An experienced family law attorney will also be necessary if you’re leaving a marriage.
The mission of TAR Network™ is to stop – and keep from getting worse – the pandemic of narcissistic abuse around the world. We are here to help you heal and recover from TAR.
The onset of a New Year gives us all a perfect opportunity to reflect on personal growth and set resolutions for positive change. If you’re involved in a toxic abusive relationship (TAR), setting boundaries and self-improvement will be challenging, but taking this journey for your emotional and physical health will definitely be worthwhile.
The start of a New Year can also inspire us to reflect on what we want out of the year ahead and craft a plan to achieve those personal goals.
We hope that you will consider – and make part of your recovery plan – accepting our invitation to participate in a brand new meeting offered by Dr. Jamie Huysman, Founder and Executive Director of TAR Network™. This psychoeducational experience will provide guidance for everyone who has and continues to suffer from the effects of TAR. Dr. Jamie will provide you with the tools you need to overcome and heal from TAR in the upcoming year, in addition to teaching you to protect yourself and your loved ones from TAR in the various spheres of your life.
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Mila’s articles cover clinical and experience-based standpoints on topics: Parental Alienation, Narcissism, Malicious Parent Syndrome, Stepparenting and Shared Parenting in TAR situations where children are involved. She provides practical, vulnerable, and real-life examples to help men recover and overcome their fears. She will help you heal: one article at a a time. She is also a Co-Founder of nonprofit organization TAR NETWORK that focuses on victims of PA: children, adults, and families. Please check the organizations which are still underdevelopment here:
https://partnersinmenshealth.com/
https://tartales.org
If you wish to write and share your stories and get in touch with Mila please contact her.
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