Sometimes moods tend to have a domino effect. You can be in a good mood, and all of a sudden someone else comes along and their mood is not so great. It tends to affect you and others around you. Soon everyone will seem down or sad. Although people go through ups and downs in life, it is important not to let their negative mood affect you. This is especially true when you are dealing with a toxic person. Anyone with a toxic behavior allows their mood to dominate them, and they use that mood to control others. A toxic individual causes pain and aggravation to others, and they make others feel as if they have no control over the situation. You may not be able to control them, but you can control yourself and how you react to them.

Don’t Take It Personal
One thing you must remember is that a toxic person does not actually have an issue with you. Someone behaving in a toxic manner will make you think that you are the issue. They will make you feel like you have done something wrong. They also tend to make you feel guilty for no apparent reason at all. Just realize that their behavior is meant to make you feel this way. Their issue lies within themselves and have nothing at all to do with you personally. Do not let a toxic person’s behavior hurt your confidence. All of the negative emotion they dish out toward others is based on their self-reflection. It really has nothing at all to do with you.

Set Boundaries
Never feel as though you have to sit there and take someone’s toxic behavior. Just because you don’t want to be rude or seem mean, doesn’t mean you have to feel pressured to listen to them. Instead of letting them suck you into their world of negativity, set boundaries. You can remove yourself from the situation and distance yourself from them. Let them know that you will not continue to be insulted. If they need a little advice or just a listening ear, ask them how they plan to solve the issue that is upsetting them. This will give them something to think about, and possibly change their outlook to a more positive one.

Cut Ties with Them
As bad as this may seem, sometimes it’s best to remove negative people from your life. If their attitude is causing you to suffer, you need to think about if you actually need that type of person in your life. Sometimes a toxic person makes you feel as if you have to walk on eggshells all day when they’re around. When you remove such a person from your life, you feel a lot less stressed. This does not mean you dislike them or hate them, it just means you care more about your own safety and well-being. You have to take care of yourself and do what’s best for you. Surround yourself with people who are more positive and allow them to uplift you with their happiness.

Have a Voice
If you live with or have to be around someone who displays a toxic attitude every day, speak up and let your voice be heard. Do not tolerate their behavior. If you don’t, they will know that they can challenge you and lash out on you whenever they feel like it. Challenge them by having a voice in the matter every time they come around with their negativity. Surprisingly, many toxic people will ease up when they are confronted. You may even surprise them or make them more upset by speaking up, but you still need to let them know that you will not tolerate them using their anger to intimidate you. Sometimes speaking up allows them to see how their behavior is leaving a negative impact on those around them.

These are just a few of the ways you can deal with toxic people in your life. Some people are really going through tough times in life, and may not know how to handle it. They may just want someone to listen or care for them; but when dealing with a toxic attitude, it’s important to protect yourself and your feelings. You cannot help them if you allow them to continue to make you feel bad. Have compassion, but also make sure you set boundaries to protect yourself.