3. DISCARDING

Among all the stages of a toxic relationship, this is perhaps the most crucial phase as this is the stage of reconciliation.

The toxic partner will try their best to justify their actions through lies, deception, manipulation and gaslighting.

They may pretend to apologize but will always have some conditions. On the other hand, they may say that you are the toxic one and you provoke them to become abusive.

Regardless of who they shift the blame on, they will try to apologize for their behavior to keep you from leaving.

They may try to love bomb you again to convince you that they are your soulmate.

They will make hollow promises about not abusing you ever again.

You may fall for their tricks and end up forgiving them especially as they try so hard to convince you with affection, attention, flowers, gifts and sex.

However, if you realize that you have had enough of these stages of a toxic relationship and decide to leave your toxic partner, they will try even more desperately to keep you from leaving them.

They will promise all the things that they never did before and convince you that everything will be better this time around.

But they never actually take responsibility for their behaviors and all these lies are meant just to trick you into staying with them.

“Be aware that if you return to the relationship, the things you were promised will vanish, and the relationship will be just as dysfunctional as before, if not more so,” warns author Stephanie Moulton Sarkis, Ph.D., N.C.C., D.C.M.H.S., L.M.H.C.

They will cheat on you repeatedly with their exes while refusing to let you go as you are their narcissistic supply.

Being with their ex partner while manipulating you to stay in the relationship is an ego booster for them.

However, a toxic partner will only allow you to walk away or end the relationship when they find a new narcissistic supply – someone who is more submissive, dependant and empathetic than you.

“One of the best things you can do with a toxic person is to go no-contact or low-contact with them,” suggests Stephanie.

If you are having trouble walking away from a toxic relationship, make sure to consult a therapist or a mental health professional to better cope with the situation while nurturing your mental and emotional health.