10 Signs of a Toxic Relationship

It's not always bruises and shouting. Often, it's just the gradual fading of yourself when you're with someone else.

A toxic relationship isn't necessarily one where you're being hit. It's a relationship where you feel worse than you would without it. Where your self-esteem melts away. Where you stop being yourself. Where instead of support, there's constant undermining. Instead of warmth, there's coldness or drama. Instead of safety, you're walking on eggshells.

Many people think, "Well, they don't hit me, so it must be fine." But toxicity can be very quiet. It can look like care. Like love. Like "I'm just worried about you." But inside, you feel yourself fading. You feel exhausted. You've forgotten who you were before this person.