But that comes with a very big yes. A toxic relationship can change if and only if both partners are equally committed to overcoming it with a lot of open communication, honesty, self-reflection and, possibly, professional, individual and together help. Coping with a toxic relationship can be frustrating, but you're not alone. Toxic relationships come in many forms, including family relationships, friendships, and romantic relationships.
The first step in fixing a toxic relationship is to focus on yourself, since the only person you can change is you. Then, work with the other person to improve communication and break toxic patterns. Finally, once you've dealt with relationship toxicity, you can work to rebuild trust, respect, and boundaries. The process of rebuilding a worn-out relationship provides them with a good opportunity to reevaluate how they feel about each other and aspects of the relationship.
As a therapist who has worked with countless people around toxic relationship addiction, I know that gaining clarity isn't just the most important first step to healing, but it can be one of the biggest challenges in recovering from a toxic relationship. If you or your partner are considering separating, discernment counseling can help both of you to be clear about whether or not there is hope for your relationship.
