The Perfect Pod

Toxicity In A Relationship and Their Warning Signs

“I really am a firm believer that you have to try to work everything out and understand why the person is toxic. You may be able to live with it — but on the other hand, you may not. If you cant, you’ve got to get out of it. We have to not put ourselves in that position. With few exceptions, human beings want to be emotionally and physically close to each other. Life seems better shared. And yet no area of human endeavor seems more fraught with challenges and difficulties than our relationships with others. Relationships, like most things in life worth having, require effort.Think of it this way:  Even good relationships take work. After all, our significant other, our close friends, and even our parents aren’t perfect (and, oddly enough, they may not see us as perfect either). We have to learn how to accommodate and adapt to their idiosyncrasies, their faults, their moods, etc., just as they must learn how to do the same with us. And it’s worth it. Some relationships, however, are more difficult and require proportionately more work. We are not clones but individuals, and some individuals in relationships are going to have more difficulties, more disagreements. But because we value these relationships we’re willing to make the effort it takes to keep them. And then there are toxic relationships. These relationships have mutated themselves into something that has the potential, if not corrected, to be extremely harmful to our well being. These relationships are not necessarily hopeless, but they require substantial and difficult work if they are to be changed into something healthy. The paradox is that in order to have a reasonable chance to turn a toxic relationship into a healthy relationship, we have to be prepared to leave it. As I always say, Relationships have never been easy and they never will be.

Mental Health and Relationships.

Mental illness can affect many aspects of life, including intimate relationships. Some individuals may experience hesitancy or fear of disclosure to their partner due to the continued stigma surrounding mental illness. Communication is key to having a healthy, positive relationship despite mental health struggles. Our experts share some advice for navigating your relationships while managing your mental well-being. Healthy relationships can be a great support system and positive resource, but your decision to disclose is up to you. “Sometimes we have our own stigma associated with disclosing our mental health struggles. We hesitate to share with our partner for fear of pushing them away,” says Tory Miller, Diversus Health Clinical Programs Manager. “However, a healthy relationship needs trust and communication. You may not disclose right away, but it is something to consider if you want to take the relationship with that person to the next level.” For those who may not experience the same mental health struggles as you, education and understanding are critical. “For the partner, it can be helpful for them to understand the steps you’re taking to treat your mental health condition such as therapy and/or medication. Your mental illness may affect other aspects of your relationship with your partner.Sometimes our mental health symptoms can make us feel lethargic, impact our ability to express empathy, or cause feelings of anxiety and isolation. Sometimes these symptoms can cause codependency or even resentment of your partner.” As you start to develop a deeper relationship, continue conversations around your mental illness. Communication is vital for a better understanding of both parties’ needs during acute episodes and how to hold each other accountable, set healthy boundaries, and ask for help when needed.

Redefine Work Life Balance During The Pandemic

The Pandemic has caused many of us to question our values and our sense of security- with aspects of our lives, both personal and professional. People may have presumed that they would always be in a particular job or overlooked to damage our focus on our careers. Many people are hoping that this strange period will be the reset button or moment they have needed for years. The Pandemic has triggered stressors in careers, personal finances, and family life with nearly 70% of workers citing Covid-19 as the most stressful moment of their career- even more stressful than other major events like 9/11 and the Great Recession of the late 2000s.

Pandemic Funneling: How the Pandemic has changed our Relationships.

You and I have to learn the important difference between annoying behaviors and toxic relationship behaviors. The importance of assuming good intentions from your partner, understanding the underlying reasons, you are annoyed with your partners behavior and learning the Importance of a good healthy conversation with your partner, to move forward and find the right solution and much more.

As the New Year approaches, I want to share with you, the 5 lessons learned, and life Post Pandemic.

As the year draws to a close, I have started to reflect more on the bumpy ride we never wanted, throughout 2020. I experienced many firsts, from earing a mask for 8 hours at a stretch. It has been a learning experience for all. Resilience is defined as "the ability of people or things to recover quickly after something unpleasant or unexpected". Undeniably, one of the most important lessons learned is the importance of core relationships.