Mike Domitrz explains how to tell if an on-again/off-again relationship is worth fixing or toxic. Toxicity means dependency, disrespect, no boundaries, or using shame and guilt to control. If you've lost independence or choice, or your partner uses emotional manipulation, that's a sign to address it or leave.
How do you get out of a toxic relationship where you're getting together, you're breaking up, you're getting together, you're breaking up? Now, that's not always toxic. Sometimes that's trying to figure things out, right? But that can definitely be toxic. So let's clarify the difference. Toxic usually means we're being treated— somebody is— in a way that either relies on dependency of the other or both, either has disrespect or lack of boundaries in it, or has harm or violence or shame or guilt being used as a controlling, manipulating player. These are all signs of toxic. Lack of independence, toxic. Lack of choice, toxic. So, 2 people who break up and get back together, sometimes they're just trying to figure this out. That's not always toxic.
