Is it possible to repair a toxic relationship? Is it possible to repair months—or even years—of behavior that has shaken a relationship to its core?

I know it seems impossible, but I believe it is possible to fix a toxic relationship. However, it will require focused efforts on both sides of the partnership.

Toxic relationships are typically defined as relationships in which one or both people are bad or “toxic” to each other due to behaviors they display, or where there may be abuse – whether mental, physical, or emotional.

Related: 7 habits of unsuccessful people who are always playing catch up in life

Recognizing the type of toxic relationship you are in is key to understanding whether or not it can be fixed. If you and your spouse yell at each other, you can learn how to speak respectfully.

However, if there is abuse, you need to get help immediately.

Therefore, if you suspect that your relationship is toxic but can be salvaged, it is important to know what you need to do to heal the relationship and get the connection you dreamed of.

Here are 5 steps you can take to heal a toxic relationship.

1. Acknowledge that it is toxic.

To repair a toxic relationship, both parties must be willing to admit that it is toxic.

In many cases, one person sees the relationship as toxic, but the other person can’t—or doesn’t want to—see that either. If only one party sees how bad things are, repairing the toxic relationship will be impossible.

For example, this might be the case if someone is in a relationship with a narcissistic alcoholic.

For many years, the man treated his partner horribly. He has drunken outbursts, disappears for weeks at a time, gaslights her when they talk and blames her for many problems in their relationship.

His partner loves him very much, but his unwillingness to see that their relationship is toxic and that his issues are affecting the relationship in a major way makes it so that there is no hope of changing things.

She’ll end up clinging to it, hoping it will happen, but until he truly admits that the relationship is toxic, things will go the way they always have.

Related: 10 behaviors that make people resent you almost instantly, according to psychology

2. Take ownership of your part of toxicity.

One of the essential parts of repairing a toxic relationship is wanting to take ownership of your toxic piece.

In the case of a woman who has a narcissistic, alcoholic partner, she is keenly aware that her behaviors are contributing to the toxic relationship.

She does not trust her partner, so she may become anxious and clingy, which enables the narcissist to act out, as she continues to be with him, and of course, becomes nervous during their confrontations.

Unfortunately, her partner refuses to take any ownership of their issues. He admits he drinks too much, but blames her for not being more supportive.

He says that if she stops playing around and accepts him as he is, everything will be okay. When he goes to Bender, he blames her clinginess for keeping him away.

Because he’s not willing to take ownership of the end of the relationship, every time they try to make a change, things stay the same. Since he not only accepts his role in the toxicity—but blames her for most of it—repairing their relationship isn’t possible.

3. Be willing to change.

For many of us, making change is difficult. You are who you are. However, people in toxic relationships must be willing to make changes.

The woman above is eager to make changes. She loves her man very much and still clings to the dream of their life together. She does her best to try to do things differently.

She accepts his drinking and realizes that he means well but cannot follow through on his intentions. She supports him when he’s really bad and makes sure his kids are taken care of when he’s gone.

She is willing to change essential parts of herself, in hopes of repairing their relationship.

Unfortunately, her husband won’t change. On good days, he realizes he needs to, and may take baby steps.

Unfortunately, those small steps don’t get him anywhere. Soon he would fall back into his old habits, and she would be left holding the bag again.

If both people are not willing to change, it will be impossible to repair the toxic relationship.

4. We realize that it will take time.

For many people, when they take a step to start repairing a toxic relationship, they are at the end of their rope. They realize how bad things are and hoping to fix things is a last-ditch effort to save the relationship.

Unfortunately, a toxic relationship cannot be changed overnight. Change takes a long time.

Furthermore, ingrained behaviors and habits in people and relationships are difficult to break. Oftentimes, repairing a relationship involves two steps forward and one step back.

This step back can be frustrating and lead the couple to give up the fight to fix things. Realizing that what matters are the two steps forward and not one step back is the key to repairing a toxic relationship.

5. Be willing to get professional help.

For many people, the prospect of getting professional help is scary.

Sharing problems with a stranger, putting embarrassing things out into the world, and worrying about being judged all tend to keep people away from getting real help. Instead, they decided to make things work on their own.

Unfortunately, professional help is necessary to help people repair a toxic relationship. There are many elements involved in a relationship, which makes having an unbiased source — or someone to judge — an essential part of tort repair.

I believe it is truly possible to fix a toxic relationship.

With some concerted effort and patience from both people, change can be made and the relationship improved.

Couples can come back from some dark places after deciding to commit to change and work toward it.

So, take the step today and learn how to fix your toxic relationship to make it a true love relationship!

Related: Lazy people who become highly disciplined often practice these 7 simple habits