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It is not just adults who enter into and find it difficult to avoid damaging relationships. In fact, teens are just as likely as adults enter into relations that are unhealthy for their emotional and physical wellbeing. In some cases these relationships have resulted in death.

How to Identify a Toxic Relationship

There are many telltale signs of a bad relationship. These signs indicate friendships that are draining and that can actually make you feel bad about yourself. Things to look out for include:

• Always being put down and criticized
• Signs of jealousy: This may be directed at you or others. There will be the use of unkind words or gossip about other people.
• Selfishness and a focus only on themselves and showing no interest in you and your problems
• A desire for control over everything you do. This could be how you dress and where you go and the friends you keep.

How to Avoid Toxic Relationships

There are no hard and fast rules on how to avoid getting into these types of situations. In many cases it is not easy to spot someone who is needy before getting close to them. The first step is to understand what to look out for.

Some experts also advise against getting involved with people who have had repeated run-ins with the law. Even more so if these arrests had to do with violence or other antisocial behavior.

Thankfully, no one has to stay in any type of toxic relationship. The truth is however that some people may find it more difficult to extricate themselves. This is especially true for intimate relationships.