Our feelings are designed to be signals. They send us messages and provide signals to help point us in the right direction.

We should listen to our emotions for this very reason. This is especially the case when you suspect that you may be dealing with toxic people, skilled at manipulation.

They may try to twist things, but the way he makes you feel is a big indication of the health of your relationship with him.

Their negative energy can seep into your daily routine, relationships, and overall well-being.

That’s why, if you recognize the following feelings, you’ve probably dealt with a toxic person.

1) Feeling emotionally exhausted after spending time with them

Energy suckers suck your energy reserves and leave you feeling mentally tired, and sometimes physically tired.

Even the smallest interactions can leave you so high that you leave feeling emotionally drained.

I remember a former colleague who was what I call a “passive addict.”

He always had something to complain about. He was constantly involved in drama (of his own making). Whenever you talked to him, he would throw his emotional baggage at you.

That may not seem very sympathetic or compassionate. But when you’re dealing with highly toxic people, you’re often powerless to help them, and they try to drag you down with them.

So, if you constantly feel tired after interacting with a certain person, this is an important sign to watch out for.

2) Always walking on eggshells
When we feel uncomfortable around someone, it’s usually for a good reason.

You may feel like you have to be constantly vigilant so that you don’t say anything or do anything that will inadvertently trigger those feelings.

This makes honest communication largely impossible.

While a sensitive approach is admirable, this goes beyond that.

They may try to make it seem like you are doing unreasonable things that “irritate” them. But the truth is that you are fully aware that you are offending or annoying them because they are reacting so strongly.

As research has shown, there may be something more sinister going on when we walk on eggshells, with one study concluding:

“A person who causes another person to resort to eggshell behavior is often guilty of emotional abuse, as one partner is put on high alert for the other’s next moves.”

This feeling you’re having is just one manifestation of anxiety, and as we’re about to see, there may be more.

3) Increased levels of anxiety around them, and feeling stressed

The natural result of increased stress is excess stress and anxiety.

As Charlie Health explains, toxic relationships can affect us in physiological ways.

Since the quality of our social relationships is a major risk factor when it comes to depression, toxic connections can seriously impact your mental health.

4) Feeling guilty all the time, even if you can’t figure out why
Despite how destructive they can be, one common tactic that toxic people resort to is playing the victim.

They use this apparent position of weakness as their strength. It is designed to arouse pity so that they can emotionally manipulate others.

When you’re on the receiving end of a guilt trip, you may end up feeling a lot of self-blame.

They may blame you for things that are beyond your control. Or they try to shift responsibility onto you, often because of their own emotions and behaviors.

That’s why, no matter what you do, if you constantly feel guilty, you’re probably dealing with a toxic person.

5) Feeling bad about yourself
It’s really common to feel confused and unsure of yourself after spending enough time with a toxic person.

This is particularly the case when there is an influence of gaslighting and manipulation. It’s all part of their tactics to make you doubt yourself.

So they can make you question your worth, abilities, or decisions.

They may do things like subtly belittle your accomplishments, or try to make you feel like you’re not good enough.

Indirect compliments, insensitive “comments,” and cruel jokes are just some of the ways this may manifest.

People who care about us or have our best interests uplift us, not tear us down.

If your feelings are constantly invalidated, and you feel judged all the time, this is an indication that a toxic person has begun to erode your self-esteem.

6) Feeling disrespected
Unfortunately, toxic people tend to ignore emotional and physical boundaries.

Whenever boundaries are crossed, we can end up feeling like we’re walking all over the place.

You may feel unheard and unseen and as if your desires are being ignored. This is bound to arouse a certain amount of resentment or frustration.

Even when you say no, it falls on deaf ears. Likewise, if you ask them not to do something, they continue anyway.

They may often try to get over it, leaving you with very stressful feelings.

As we’ll see next, you may not know what to do about it because you feel increasingly helpless.

7) Feeling trapped
This can manifest in different ways depending on your relationship with the toxic person in question.

Toxic people can be incredibly controlling, which ultimately takes away your sense of power.

It may make you feel like you have very little choice or say in things.

Another common tactic is to try to isolate yourself from others so that their hold on you becomes stronger.

They may create disagreements between you and your loved ones. They can alienate you from your friends. They may even try to turn you against your family.

It’s basically about removing your support network. The more they try to make you feel lonely, the more you feel like you need them.

When you’re dealing with toxic people, it’s common to feel misunderstood, insulted, and unsupported.

This only exacerbates the feeling of helplessness or powerlessness in the situation.

finalthoughts

In short, a toxic person will make you feel bad around them, and worse about yourself.

While no relationship is perfect, there is a disproportionate amount of negative emotions floating around in toxic relationships.

Healthy relationships make us feel safe, secure, valued, and energized. So pay close attention if there is someone in your life who shows the opposite.

If you’re feeling frustrated, drained, and disrespected, you’re probably dealing with a toxic person.