Self- doubt can paint a distorted self-portrait. The toxicity that often singes the mouth and leaves an overwhelming bitter taste afterwards. It can be simply summarized into one word: betrayal. Deceived by perspective and blinded by empty affection. The clean complexity of the situation coerces it’s victims with violent highs and lows with remnants leaving them achingly disoriented. The most transparent words gain trust yet delivers an absolute destruction. The high that puts you on a pedestal and a low so full of resentment. Excuses begin to consume your life. And yet, you don’t even realize it. No one deserves to be blinded by toxic relationships.  

“I’ve learned not to attach myself so easily. I have an issue with trying to see the good in everyone, and it never does anything but hurt me in the end,” junior Danielle O’Connor said. 

Relationships, whether it be with either a friend, family member, or significant other, are meant to be mutually and equally helpful. Without this mutual support, relationships can crumble along with your mental health. There’s no point in maintaining a relationship that fails to recognize you as a person.  

“I really don’t think that there’s anything that anyone could have said or done to help me. I knew what was going on, I just didn’t want to believe it,” junior Danielle O’Connor said. 

Teens are impressionable and aren’t nearly fully developed in decision making or emotions. Therefore, they often have trouble with figuring out what to do. Teens may even find it common to be in these relationships as they might see it as a normality. It’s important to create a strong distinction between healthy and abusive relationships.  

“I think it’s hard to recognize manipulation because people will do things to make you trust them and become attached. After they have you hooked, they hurt you and then promise that they’ll never do it again and you believe them constantly. When I finally left him, I felt relief for the first time in a very long time,” junior Danielle O’Connor said. 

Although, even after the realization, it can be hard to break apart from said relationships. People often still care about these people or are in a rough spot. Manipulation is often the reason behind this. It’s essential to try and see past their words. 

“Toxic relationships are not only hard on the person in the relationship, but friends in their lives. They are never in a good mood, always upset, and a lot of the time you are never able to hang out with them without their significant other being mad, ” junior Arminda Neppl said. 

Not only do toxic relationships affect the person directly, it can also take a toll on friendships. No one is happy and everyone accumulates pent up frustration. It may not be fair to either, but it’s hard to really do anything without offending the friend with a toxic relationship. 

“Toxic relationships are so prevalent in high school because you think that you are in love with that person, and you think you will be with them for the rest of your life. When in reality, that’s probably not the case. You try to make it work so you can still be with that person, even if it’s not meant to be,” junior Arminda Neppl said. 

“They kept pushing me away from them and saying bad things about me behind my back and made me feel less than them,” sophomore Caroly Coronado- Vargas said.  

Toxic relationships aren’t only related to romantic relationships; they’re also very common in friendships. People tend to believe that friendships are too valuable leave, but no mistreatment should be allowed. Friends should be your support system. Everyone you involve yourself with should be supportive. No one should be chained to a toxic relationship.