Toxic Relationships In High School

Last year a sophomore waited at home for her boyfriend to come surprise her on Valentine’s day a day dedicated to love but, after waiting for hours for her prince charming to show up like all his friends said he would, he never did. When she confronted him about it he made it seem like it was her fault ¨All the fights ended with me taking the blame no matter who’s fault it actually was. He always made me feel like I was a terrible person,¨ said a current junior ´20. Though devastating this story is not just happening to her it’s happening to a majority of high school students all over the world. In a survey conducted of 37 high school students there was a question that asked ¨Have you ever been in a toxic relationship? (a toxic relationship is any relationship that is unfavorable to you or others this includes all relationships including friendships)¨ and 23 of them said they had experienced a toxic relationship that is over half of the students.

Toxic relationships are easily noticeable and preventable, there are many signs of toxic relationships for example they (implicitly or explicitly) try to gain power and control over you, or the is not relationship mutually beneficial to you. These signs are very important to notice because if this kind of behavior is happening in a relationship it can have a tremendous impact on someone’s life especially young adults ¨Students that are in unhealthy relationships tend to withdraw from their friends and families.¨ said Kathy Bresnahan the heath teacher at West High School. If your relationship is one-sided its toxic ¨He was caring of me at first but then he didn’t seem to care about me at all the more we were together.¨ said junior ´20.

Since toxic relationships are so prominent in high school everyone should be able to help themselves or a friend out of one. If you are trying to help a friend out be compassionate and communicate they might not like that you are coming in between their relationship but, if you think about their feelings and make valid points they can’t disagree with you and might consider ending the relationship or healing it. Remember to never distance from a friend in a toxic relationship they are in a hard place in their life even if they don’t know it yet and they will need a shoulder to cry on. being there for you friend will help them trust you more in the long run.¨I have one friend and I am more selective I always want to surround myself with supportive positive people¨ said Sophia Davis ´21
Remember if you ever find yourself in a toxic relationship you are alone thousands of people have experienced being in one. After a year Junior ´20 is in a strong relationship and surrounds herself with positive people ¨In the end I wish I was the one who would’ve ended it but now i’m just happy it’s over.¨ said Junior ´20