Maybe It Is Not Depression, Maybe You Are Surrounded By Toxic People

Do you feel sad and hopeless? Do you think you might have depression? Are you sure that it has to do with you and not the people around you?

Depression is not a joke. This is a serious illness that can literally break you and drastically change your life.

But before you diagnose yourself with depression, make sure that the problem is really with you, and not with the toxic people that you may be surrounded with.

TOXIC PEOPLE ARE EVERYWHERE
There are people whose mere presence in your life suck all the happiness out of it. And no matter how understanding, strong and persistent you may try to be, toxic people will very quickly drain your energy. Unless, of course, you decide to defend yourself.
Analyze your environment. Perhaps there is a person there who makes you unhappy and miserable. And there may be even more such people, eg. at your workplace.
The question is, how do these people manage to drive you into a depressive state? The answer is simple: because by nature you are probably a kind and decent person who knows how to respect others, and therefore they use it.
Ever since we were children, we have been taught to respect others, value other people's opinions, take into account the feelings of others, and be able to listen and not humiliate or offend anyone. But not everyone grows up with such attitudes.

For some people, your kindness is a sign of weakness. Once you start to believe it yourself, you start to doubt your values and principles, and as a result, you start feeling deeply unhappy.

Because of the surroundings you grew up in or you work in, your self-esteem may significantly decrease, you may start to feel great sadness, apathy and a sense of hopelessness. Do you still think you are depressed? First and foremost, take a very close look at the people around you.

Signs that you are surrounded by toxic people:

1. They are energy vampires
Toxic people masterfully drain your energy and positive emotions, leaving you exhausted. They constantly take something away without offering anything in return, no matter whether you want it or not.
Their mere presence in your life makes you feel oppressed and humiliated. Toxic people may act like they care about you, but they don't really care about your feelings and needs.

2. They will try to make you feel guilty
Toxic people are also often narcissists and manipulators. They will shamelessly trick you into actions that will strengthen their egos and satisfy their needs.
This behavior distracts from your own feelings and makes you forget about your own needs.

​When you focus on the other person and their needs in the first place, it usually leads to frustration and resentment. It can also lead to depression as you constantly suppress your true feelings and lose interest in what you really enjoy.
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3. They are loud and arrogant
They will cross any boundaries without remorse, even if they have to violate your personal space. Toxic people always want to have the last word, and for this they are ready to do anything.
When they feel threatened with exposure, they tend to use completely dirty tricks. They lie, twist the facts, twist the words and even start insulting another person in public, because deep down they are insecure.

4. They transform you into someone you are not
Toxic people will try to manipulate you in order to transform you into a completely different person. They need you to become what you yourself never wanted to be. It can get to the point where you stop recognizing yourself.
Such people like to pretend to be victims and accuse you of the fact that something does not work out in their own lives. This is how they start you to doubt your own decisions and actions.
As a result, you will begin to experience frequent emotional outbursts, reacting to even the smallest triggers, which, in turn, negatively affect your emotional, physical and mental health.

5. They lie and manipulate
Toxic people can lie about anything to get what they want. They are skilled at manipulating and spreading rumors. They believe that they are always right, so they do not believe that their lies can harm anyone.
If you get in the way of a manipulator, they will do anything to stop you. As a result, you will begin to doubt your adequacy, lose confidence and be left without support. They will make you believe that you are mentally ill.

Recovery strategy from toxic people:
Toxic people are everywhere, but you can fight back and get your life back.
Here are some ways to help you with this:

1. Observe and be honest
Become aware of the reality around you. Understand that a certain person in your life is trying to manipulate you. The first step towards regaining self-esteem is to identify who in your environment is the manipulator.

2. Take control of your life
Once you identify a toxic person, take action. Decide for yourself what you can do and how.

3. Cut the connections
Cut the connections with the toxic person if possible, or at least keep them at distance. The course of action you choose will help you stay away from this person and their toxicity. Talk to them as little as possible, or better yet, don't talk at all.

4. Take care of yourself
Self-love is your most powerful tool in helping you heal after such traumatic events.

Take care of your health, do what brings you pleasure, spend more time with loved ones, go on vacation ... In short, take time to do what makes you happy.

In some cases, it is worth asking for help. Don't be afraid to ask for help, be it your health care provider, family members, or friends.
Now is the time to stand up for yourself. Learn to understand when you are dealing with toxic surroundings and how to get rid of them and their toxicity.