How to Handle Toxic People
In this short instructional video, Shanli Liu, CPA, CTP, outlines three concrete strategies for dealing with toxic individuals who seek drama and attention. The first tactic is to doubt their claims, using language that signals uncertainty (e.g., “I’m not sure about that”) to deny them the validation they crave. The second tactic is to delay your response, replying with statements like “I’ll have to think on that” to withhold the immediate dopamine hit that fuels their control. The third tactic is to create physical or temporal distance—either by changing location or limiting time spent with them—to protect yourself and signal that their toxic behavior is not a priority. The video concludes with a call to follow the speaker for more advice.
