‘Toxic’ Is Oxford Dictionary’s Word of 2018—Here’s When We Used It This Year
The definition of "toxic" is listed as "acting as or having the effect of a poison" and "causing unpleasant feelings; harmful or malicious."
Oxford Dictionary listed the term as its word of the year, and, quite frankly, we have to agree that it's been pret-ty prevalent.
(Pretty Little Liars via Freeform)
While the folks at Oxford say the word sums up "situations, concerns and events" going on in the world (correctly, we might add), we've unfortunately dealt with it a lot in our personal lives, leading us to even spend a full week devoting stories to how we've been affected by toxic behavior.
In the spirit of honoring Oxford's choice, we're pulling up all the times in 2018 that we've written about toxic relationships in our lives. Writing about these people and experiences has been therapeutic for all of us, reminding us how grateful we are to be in a better place without such negative distractions.
Keep reading for our roundup of toxic stories below:
7 Toxic Relationship Habits You Might Think Are Healthy
From passively dropping hints, to holding your S.O. accountable for how you feel, there are many seemingly harmless things people do in relationships that are actually far worse than you might think. We've compiled a list of habits that are, in fact, toxic—and what you can do to change them.
(Gossip Girl via The CW)
The Toxic Relationship You Attract, Based on Your Zodiac Sign
No one is completely free from toxic environments and the people who inhabit them, but, oddly enough, when you were born has a lot to do with the toxic energy you're more susceptible to. We've rounded up the toxic type of person you attract, based on your zodiac sign.
Here's Why It's So Hard to Let Go of Your Toxic Friendship
Toxic friendships can be addicting. Sometimes we develop a codependency for our unhealthy relationships. This post explains why we're drawn to these dynamics and how to decide whether you should continue in a particular friendship or if you should end things once and for all. Sometimes, even two non-toxic people can merge to create a toxic pairing. This post explains how to maneuver through those situations.
(Gossip Girl via The CW)
How to Know Whether to Let an Ex-Toxic Friend Back Into Your Life
We like to believe that most people are capable of changing for the better. Pretty much everyone matures in some capacity over time, and there's a chance we may want to reconnect with a person who once did us wrong. This post goes over the pros and cons of letting someone back into your life, and how to decide if it's worth giving it another shot.
Our Definitive Ranking of Toxic TV Friendships
Ah, TV—the epicenter of toxic friendships and relationships. If there are certain pairings we need to aim for the complete opposite of, the small screen is where to find them. We've rounded up some of the absolute worst so that you can avoid replicating these situations in your own life!
(Pretty Little Liars via Freeform)
How to Break the Toxic Relationship Cycle With Your Crush
If you've ever crushed hard on someone (without actually easing into a relationship with them), you've probably experienced the games and the highs and lows of your dynamic. This post breaks down unhealthy crushing habits and how to make a clean break from the toxicity.
Think you're finally ready to kick a toxic friend to the curb? HERE's the best way to do it.