We all want to experience love and connection in our lives, but sometimes we find ourselves stuck in toxic relationships that drain our energy, damage our self-esteem, and hold us back from reaching our full potential.

In my previous two posts, I discussed what it feels like to be caged in a toxic relationship as well as the devastating costs of being in one. But how does one know they’re in a toxic relationship?

There’s a reason why toxic relationships are called ‘toxic’: being in one can impact a person’s life in many ways and cause substantial, long-term damage.

Caged in a toxic relationship? Anna was beginning to believe that might be her reality. After 15 years of marriage to Jan, a charming young lawyer she met during her graduate studies in the US, she was starting to have doubts.