8 Types of Toxic People: Are You One of Them?

“I wish people came with a 30 second trailer. So, I could see what I’m getting myself into.”

“I would like you to meet our new colleague, Ms. B.” Mr. A introduced.

“Nice to meet you, Ms. B.” I smiled.

“Pleasure to meet you, too.” Ms. B smiled sweetly.

One month later,

“You know, that [name] is such a b***ch. I gave her the task of updating the database, but she does such a sloppy job. I can’t believe it! I would have done the task myself had I known, and a better one at that.” Ms. B crossed her arms, clearly exasperated.

“Uh-oh…What have I gotten myself into…?” (monologue) *facepalm*

While there are good and kind people out there, the world is filled with people of all kinds of personalities, and unfortunately, toxic personality is one of them. At some point in our lives, we are bound to come across toxic people, one way or another. Be it at the workplace, school, university or even in your own household. All of us are flawed and imperfect, but there’s no law that says you can’t improve for the better.

Fret not, there are ways to distinguish the traits of toxic people. Here’s a question, are you one of them? Let’s find out.

The Black Hole

This refers to people who are filled with negativity. From right to left, up to down, they view life as a pain in the ass and the positive light seems to have faded from them. They just can’t seem to see the good in almost everything and has a lot to say just about anything. Their superpowers seem to be invoking fear and concern into others. Just like when you imagine yourself entering a black hole, you are filled with uncertainties and fear.

Mirror-Mirror-on-the-Wall

And here’s the famous one we often encounter. The narcissists. They are personally my biggest pet peeve. They are people with ego as huge as the universe, highly arrogant and thinks they are better than others. All they care about is themselves, their own achievements and lacks empathy for others. To them, there’s never a ‘you and I’, just ‘I’. Oh, and they think the world revolves around them, and enjoys devaluing others. Narcissism often begins in childhood and it's linked to sociopathy and psychopathy.

The Manipulators

They are personally my second biggest pet peeve, and if I do encounter one, I will stay far away. They are the controllers and enjoy twisting your life in their little fingers (okay, I am exaggerating). But they are basically the ones who enjoy gaslighting others and is the master of guilt trips. They will manipulate the situation to get what they desire and to their own benefits without conscience. They also share similar traits to narcissists.

The Silent & Deadly Ninja

The people who fall under this category can be deemed as the snakes of toxic people. They are the backstabbers who are never happy with other people’s achievements and happiness, and always seem to find one’s weaknesses and step on it or use it to their advantage. Jealousy is a strong trait in this category because these people often have too much self-hate in them.

The Energy-Sucking Vampire

Similar to those who falls under “the black hole” category, they are filled with negativity. Wherever this person goes to, he or she seems to have the ability to turn the mood down without much effort. They drain your positive energy, overwhelms the victim with nothing but negativity, and takes advantage of those weaker than them. They suck one’s energy, leaving one dried up like a dried prune.

The Compulsive Liars

People who falls under this category are dangerous because you could never tell if their words ring true or not. While most of us tell lies in order to protect ourselves or protect others, people under this category tell lies so often that it became a natural tendency to them, whether it’s harmless or harmful. The question is, if this person tells lies so often, would you want to be with this person who has a high probability of lying to you? Trust your instincts.

The Drama Queen

Have you encounter a person who seems to have all kinds of problems in his or her life? And all they do is complain endlessly about the problem. When one issue is solved, another one emerges like a mushroom. Without fail. These people are magnets for drama. They portray themselves as victims and drown in self-pity, only seeking empathy and sympathy from others, but never doing much to solve the problem at its root.

The Leeches

Have you ever come across people whom you collaborated with for a project, and the person takes all the credits and the limelight, leaving you as if you haven’t done anything worthwhile when you have put in lots of effort? These are the leeches. Just like a leech who sucks your blood, then falls off once done and crawling away, leaving you bleeding (except the actual leech has health benefits from sucking your blood).

Do you display any of the traits above, even the slightest? If yes, you might want to re-evaluate yourself and improve for the better. Ask yourself a question and answer honestly. What do you feel when seeing others suffer or in depression?

In conclusion, a toxic person is filled with negativity, defy logic, and thinks they are the best of the best. Most of this people lack empathy and compassion for others. We cannot change who they are, but we can protect ourselves from them. Below are some of the red flags that you are next to a toxic person:

• The constant need to impress them.

• You feel dread when you see them.

• You have to constantly fix their problems.

• You feel drained out after interacting with them.

• You feel low-spirited around them.

• Your life seems to have more drama than before you meet them.

• They ignore your thoughts and needs. Do not respect your opinions and only taking what might benefit them.

• They pretend to listen to your problems, and later brushes it under the rug.

• They don’t take ‘no’ for an answer.

Don’t ignore these red flags because mingling with a toxic person can cause serious health issues such as depression and stress, which could then lead to other serious health problems. Try to fill your life with positivity instead of negativity. When you learn to be more confident and say no, you’ll be able to set boundaries and build a wall against the negativity. You deserve to be with someone who is supportive and loving and nurture you to be the best of yourself. As quoted by Hans F. Hansen, “people inspire you or they drain you. Pick them wisely.”