5 Signs It’s Time to Cut Off Toxic Family

Ask about the importance of family and you’ll run a good chance of hearing the old saying “Blood is thicker than water”. The idea is that family is first, no matter what.

Funny thing, that saying.

Family is important, no doubt about that. The question is — what makes a family? Is a family the group of people with whom you share a bloodline? Or is family made up of the people who are there when the chips are down, your back is against the wall and you’re struggling to stay above water?

Part of understanding family comes down to knowing when someone is there for you, and when they’ve become toxic. Cutting off communication with a family member is rarely, if ever, an easy decision, but it is sometimes a simple one.

These five signs should be seen as glaring red flags that it’s time to do more than reevaluate a relationship or look for common ground — it’s time to cut your losses and move on.

Interactions Require Prep and Recovery Time

Family visits aren’t always easy, but that doesn’t mean it has to be anxiety inducing. In my 20s I was a fairly extreme introvert. I had a terrible time making connections and was very awkward socially. So even with my good friends, there were times I felt I had to recover after hanging out…