Toxic Family Survival : How to Survive and Cope

Family is supposed to be source of love, support, care and security. But what happen when it becomes the opposite, what when it become toxic ?

What they become those peoples who drain your energy and cause of your bad mental health. Living in toxic family environment can impact on mental health.

What is Actually Toxic Family ?

A Toxic family is one that displays negative behavior’s and patterns that harm its members emotionally, mentally or physically.

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Signs of Toxic Family –

• They often says you are too dramatic, you are too overacting, you are too sensitive.

• They play like victim and makes you feel guilty that you did something wrong…. like wow Really ?

• Always Blame you and Now you labelled as problematic.

• We all are Human Being and Everyone make mistakes But in Toxic Family you are not allowed to makes mistakes.

• They always have Endless Expectations from you.
• For example if you get good then they expect you to be topper, when you passed your degree as a topper, they’ll be when you getting good job, after getting job, they’ll be when you getting married, then when getting kids, and list never ends.

• They often criticize, Judge you, in some arguments they also disrespect you, then they defend themselves by saying “you makes me in bad mood or you makes me really angry”.

• Some families are so strict, they control your finance, they control where to go, when to go and how should you dress, they don’t want to become you independent.

• You are victim of Physical abuse , mental abuse and Emotional abuse.

• You constantly feel like outsider, you always feel left out, because your thinking is different from whole family, but no one is understand you.

They using the trick of emotional manipulation to control you and isolate you from your loved ones and negative environment which can lead to low self- esteem, anxiety and mental health issues.

Some Bollywood Film Examples –

Taare Zameen Par

The Ishaan’s father was always abuse him, the child who is innocent, who is dumb in studies but his Father pressurise him always to be a smart student, his father is never try to understand why the way his child like this. Is he need some extra care or love, why he is not studying or act like a normal kid.

3 Idiots

The Mr. Viru Sahastrabudhhe (Boman Irani) who not able to support his own son, who never try to understand what he wants in life, just put their thought and immense pressure to become engineer.

Mr. Qureshi who don’t want his son to become photographer , who wants and pressurise him to become a engineer and get a job and settle in life ( But be honest i Don’t find more toxicity here, every parents want that their child don’t suffer)

i guess it is the reason behind why he wants farhan to get a job from his college campus and settle down. somehow the parents care for you but you have to stick to point and try to understand them.

How to Cope with Toxic Family – (Toxic Family Survival Tips)

• Set your Clear boundaries, Communicate your limits, like what kind of behavior you will not tolerate.go talk to them.

• Seek advice and Support from your group, friends and any elder who can guide and assist you.

• Focus on Personal Growth, Invest your time in self improvement, learning and building a positive future, your Growth is powerful response to a toxic Environment.

• Forgiveness, it doesn’t mean tolerate toxic behavior but rather freeing yourself from the burden of anger and resentment.

• Remember that you are not defined by your family’s toxicity. you have the power to create a life that you dreamed about.

• It’s okay, did you read it ? IT’S OKAY to distance yourself to protect your mental health. Sometimes, a break can provide much- needed clarity

• Learn to identify toxic behavior within your family. Recognize the patterns of criticism, manipulation, and negativity.

• Engage in activities and passions that bring you joy and fulfillment outside of your family environment.

• Set realistic expectations for your family. It takes time to adjust but gradually your family start accepting you.

• Believe or not but you have the power to convince your family, what do you want them to treat you, what do you want to do things by your own.

Try to understand that toxic family members may have their own issues, so it is better to respond with empathy rather than anger.

Dealing with toxic family is not easy task, but it is possible , First recognizing their pattern, toxicity, setting your boundaries, practicing self care and focusing on your growth, Remember you are not the only one who have toxic family. Hope for a brighter Future, Take care of yourself. Thankyou reading this.