By: Anuradha
It is not easy to move away from your family. They were the ones that you had spent most part of your life with and they are the ones who know you better than many. But there can be times where it is necessary to cut ties with a toxic family member and it might be one of the most difficult things that you ever faced in your life.
So, here are few things that you will have to face when you cut ties with your loved ones and we are talking about these because we feel that you need to be aware of these impacts when you make the decision to move away!
1. Your guilt might overwhelm you.
You would most likely feel guilty and bad for making that decision after you moved away. But, always remind yourself the reasons that compelled you to take that move in life. You gave that person several chances to make things right, but you were the only one who was hurt and therefore, tries not to regret anything. Just be proud that you had the courage to stand for yourself and that is the most important thing.
2. You will feel sorry for the person and attempted to reach out.
Moving away from family is not an easy thing. You will mostly regret not tolerating things and enduring hardships. You will come across with situations where you have to meet them and difficult to ignore them, but try to act neutrally in such moments. The more you stay away from their toxic influence, the more you will be able to stay strong and therefore, stop yourself from reconnecting while you are still recovering.
3. Family gatherings may be awkward.
It will not be possible to completely avoid them. They are the family after all. You will meet that particular one in family gatherings, meetings and in such occasions, they might try to provoke you, hurt you and there can also be people who try to patch things up. But the best thing is to understand that your mental health is important than anything else. If it is required, just exchange a few words with that person but never move into deep conversations.
4. They may lash out at you.
Depending on the type of relationship you had with that person the reaction would vary. They may blame you or will send harsh emails and might even try to spread false rumors about you. so, always try to surround yourself with some faithful friends who will always support you and encourage you in all your difficult situations.
5. They may attempt to turn the family against you.
One of the biggest disadvantages of turning up a toxic family member is that they will try to poison the ones who are loyal to you against you and will have to face a hard time. So, always make sure that you explain yourself to your loved ones and at least tell your side of the story to someone in the family who will try to protect you from any angry reactions from other family members.
6. The ‘blood is thicker than water’ argument will pop up.
Sometimes, the toxic people might not even try to reach you but your family members try to make a reconciliation between both of you just by saying ‘blood is thicker than water’. It is true that blood is thicker than water and it is good to have a proper connection with your family members but, you moved out for a reason and always remember to value your mental health.
7. Your loved ones may try to make you feel guilty.
Your family members may try to talk to you and even openly criticize you for the measure that you took because they don’t know the reasons that compelled you to take that measure. They will bring it up over and over again and will try to make you feel bad. So, have an honest discussion with them and explain to them the real reasons for your decision.
8. Your family may force you to meet them.
Your family members may try to arrange meetings with that person without your awareness and that can be really unpleasant. So, feel free to walk away if you feel uncomfortable because you have the power to do it.
9. You will feel liberated from their toxicity.
The best thing about moving away is that despite your initial sense of guiltiness, you will feel more liberated and independent. So, always be happy about the decision that you made and try to act on that.