“Many toxic parents compare one sibling unfavorably with another to make the target child feel that he's not doing enough to gain parental affection. This motivates the child to do whatever the parents want in order to regain their favor. This divide-and-conquer technique is often unleashed against c…”— Susan Forward, amazon.com
“You have had such a deep hunger for real human contact for such a long time that when it is offered, you consume it ravenously. Such clinging and highly dependent behavior eventually forces the other person to reject you, and you take this as further proof that you are unlovable.”— Steven Farmer, amazon.com
“Fighting became a way of life and seemed perfectly normal for your family.”— Steven Farmer, amazon.com
“There was little respect in your family for your personal belongings, either, which are an extension of our personal boundaries. Our parents may have sold, thrown out, or given away without your knowledge or consent things that belonged to you. This lack of respect left you with an unstable sense of…”— Steven Farmer, amazon.com
“Adult children of toxic parents have an especially difficult time with their anger because they grew up in families where emotional expression was discouraged. Anger was something only parents had the privilege of displaying.”— Susan Forward, Craig Buck, amazon.com
“You must let go of the responsibility for the painful events of your childhood and put it where it belongs.”— Susan Forward, Craig Buck, amazon.com
“You are an adult and can withstand your discomfort for the purpose of becoming your own person.”— Susan Forward, Craig Buck, amazon.com
“Does he often give you the silent treatment when he’s upset? 2. Is getting him to open up like pulling teeth? 3. Is he distant, cold, aloof, or lacking emotion so that it’s difficult to know his feelings?”— Glass Lillian, amazon.com
“you need to come to a place where you value yourself more than your partner or the relationship.”— Matt Collins, amazon.com
“By understanding us, you remove one of our most powerful weapons ; confusion.”— H G Tudor, amazon.com
“After they have made you insecure enough to cling to them and raise every single insecurity you have, they will comfort you and reassure you that they are with you. And thus your dependency is increased, along with the power they have over you.”— Pamela Kole, amazon.com
“The thing about abusers is that along with power, they only recognize a relationship that is 100% on their own terms.”— Pamela Kole, amazon.com
“In toxic relationships, not only does your partner bring you down a lot. You must understand that without any kind of moral support there is no relationship at all.”— Devin Walters, amazon.com
“They are deadly people and do not deserve access into your life, unless they demonstrate the willingness and the ability to change.”— Lilly Singh, amazon.com
“Whispers scream in the night, ‘just friends’ or ‘fuck buddies.’ You're doomed. Because someone is going to get hurt. Someone is gonna fall.”— Kirsten Corley, puckermob.com
“You don't ever have to feel guilty about removing toxic people from your life...You don't have to make room for people who cause you pain or make you feel small.”— Danielle Koepke, internal-acceptance-movement.tumblr.com
“The scars from mental cruelty can be as deep and long-lasting as wounds from punches or slaps but are often not as obvious. In fact, even among women who have experienced violence from a partner, half or more report that the man’s emotional abuse is what is causing them the greatest harm.”— Lundy Bancroft, amazon.com
“Poisonous relationships can alter our perception. You can spend many years thinking you’re worthless. But you’re not worthless. You’re under-appreciated.”— Steve Maraboli, facebook.com
“I’ve found the most tragic aspect of losing loved ones wasn’t the big boom of the fallout, but realizing later how much healthier I was without them.”— Maggie Young, amazon.com
“Toxic relationships are dangerous to your health; they will literally kill you.”— Bryant McGill, bryantmcgill.com