SEAN GLADWELLGetty Images
If you’ve spent as much as five minutes on Twitter or, I don’t know,
went to high school, you know that there are toxic people in the world. The question is: how do you deal with them?
“Whether it’s personally or professionally, we all need to find ways to gracefully handle toxic personalities,” says Leah Rockwell, LPC, founder of
Rockwell Wellness Counseling based in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. She notes that the common advice to simply cut toxic people out of your life, while appealing, isn’t always practical. (Of course, if the relationship has become physically or mentally abusive, you should indeed part ways and consider seeking professional help). “Finding ways to cope and setting clear internal and external boundaries are key in working through these tough relationships,” Rockwell says.