The family is an essential thing in the world. They are the ones who teach you a lot of stuff particularly on early development. Each one of them contributes to the growth of your emotional, spiritual, and mental health. However, not all family members are capable of providing you a good source of improvement. You need to understand that some of them can become the cause of your emotional and mental dilemma. In that sense, you need to find the courage to push them away from you. Here are the reasons why it is entirely okay to cut family members out of your life.
Affecting Other Areas Of Your Life
According to some topics at BetterHelp.com, when a toxic family connection affects other essential areas of your life such as work and home, it is the time to cut them off. The stress these people bring will not stop but rather grow to a more undesirable discussion and confrontation. It is important to recognize that to be able to protect the majority of your family, you have to allow each member to grow. With that, you need to separate those functioning ones to those who contribute negatively. Always take in mind that a family member should give each other motivation and help everyone in their circle to strive in their overall development. Therefore, a relationship that hinders this growth should be addressed immediately.
Giving A Negative Feeling
Don’t be afraid to get rid of people who always make you or other members of the family feel uncomfortable. It is your overall well-being that is on the line. Thus, if those particular persons regularly make the whole home environment feel heavy and unpleasant, it’s time to let them go. That’s because of the negative impact they might bring. These toxic individuals are capable of affecting and damaging other relationships, so there’s no sense of keeping them near you or your family. Because if you don’t cut them out and you choose to let them stay around, it can eventually make you negative as well. These people can potentially drain all of the positivity you have in your life. So before thinking of keeping all your family members intact, always consider if all the relationships are worth it. If the connection is harmful to the overall growth of your family, don’t be afraid to consider stepping back. Dr. Patricia Turner, M.D., says that “attempting to maintain every relationship is not desirable or healthy and it is important to know when it is time to quit.”
Damaging Your Health
Keeping an ongoing connection with toxic family members is undoubtedly detrimental to your health. That’s due to the stress and pressure they give to you and the other members of the unit. In the worst cases, these people can cause severe mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. Aside from that, their presence will automatically bring emotional instability which will also affect your cognitive and physiological function. Sometimes they bring issues inside the home that you and other members won’t be able to mentally and emotionally handle, which in the end will result to sleep disorders and lower self-esteem.
Getting A One-Sided Relationship
No relationship should stay one-sided, and it should always have to be a give-and-take process. So when it does focus on a particular person, shut them out automatically. It is the kind of relationship that you should pick up on sooner rather than later. If the family connection is always about these toxic persons, it’s time to disregard their presence. You need to consider the red flags especially when it is evident that these individuals only care about their well-being. Heir selfishness can entirely create a negative impact on the way you think about yourself. These family members love taking but find it hard to give something in return. You should know better that it is an action that is far more damaging.
It’s Becoming Abusive
When a family relationship starts to become abusive, that’s where you need to get these people out for good. Whether the abuse is sexual, physical, mental, or emotional, it’s time to be firm in shutting these people out in your life. “We have every right to protect ourselves from those who manipulate and emotionally abuse us.” reminds Sherrie Campbell, Ph.D. “We must understand that our toxic family members have simply walked us to the door we’re now choosing to shut.” Always remember that no healthy relationship ends up with abuse. So before anything gets worst, save yourself and the rest of your family from the harshness of emotional and mental torture.
Yes, the process of cutting off family members is not that easy. But keeping yourself and the rest of your family away from toxicity is a significant move in sustaining better overall health. Sharon Martin, LCSW agrees, “Remaining in a relationship with a toxic person is potentially harmful to your emotional and physical health and relationships.” Remember to establish boundaries at all cost.