30 Toxic Traits That Will Be Red Flags To The People Around You

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There are at least 30 toxic traits that will be red flags to the people around you. A few aren’t that severe, but all of them are an issue.

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You’re incapable of apologizing

Saying you’re sorry is kind of tough sometimes, but it shows an inner strength that some people lack. One of the biggest red flags is if you can’t even appear remorseful.

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You’re condescending

It’s not always that easy to tell when you’re being haughty or talking down to others. But if you’re self-aware then it stands out as one of many red flags.

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Your moods are inconsistent 

Granted, there are reasons why this will happen with some folks. But one of the biggest red flags and indicators that you’re in control is when you can belittle one person and try to befriend another.

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You need people to validate your behavior or existence

If the attention you get, or don’t get, is enough to ruin or elevate your mood, then you should recognize this as one of the biggest red flags about your person. You should always have some control over your mood since otherwise you’re way too easy to manipulate.

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You don’t know how to be yourself

Someone who wears a mask for the general public at all times is one of the most obvious red flags. There are reasons why people do this, but working past your insecurities and learning to be yourself is a sign of maturity and strength.

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It’s difficult for you to let other people have their victories

If you can’t do anything but cringe for your friend’s success then you need to check your attitude. Feeling threatened in any way by someone else’s achievements is a lack of maturity.

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You can’t maintain a relationship

There are a lot of reasons why a relationship ends. But, and is one of the biggest red flags, if you come up as the reason why they end so often, then yes, it’s you.

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You’re an emotional manipulator

When it comes to red flags this is an industrial-sized signal that, when noticed, is bound to have an area effect that keeps everyone at a distance. Twisting words, using guilt trips, and many other tricks are what will keep people away from you.

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Your negativity is not appreciated by a lot of people

It’s okay to have an off day. But if you remain pessimistic even when the emotional clouds part then it’s draining to everyone around you. Most people won’t want to deal with this continually.

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Passive-aggressive behavior is annoying

Sometimes this is warranted since it’s better to go your own way than say something you can’t take back. But if this is your go-to when it comes time to express your dissatisfaction, well, you need help.

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Grudges are poison that only you feel

It’s fair to feel a certain way when we’re done wrong, that’s natural. However, if you don’t resolve that issue then it festers and rots in your soul and your mind, and that does you no good.

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You don’t take responsibility 

This is, as some believe, the mother of all red flags since if you can’t own up to the things you do then you’re not worth knowing. It’s tough to take responsibility, but it’s liberating since it shows people your strength of character.

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Drama is your default setting

Toxic traits are abundant with some people. You stir the pot for no better reason than to turn life into a reality show, and that’s bogus. People don’t want to deal with that garbage any more than they need to.

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You let your victim card show on your sleeve

This goes along with responsibility, since if you can’t accept it then you’re bound to blame someone else for anything. From guilt-tripping to making excuses to whatever you can get away with, you’ll dodge and evade any issue better than an NFL running back evading the defense.

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Criticism is your weapon and your kryptonite 

You can dish it out, but you can’t take it in other words. You love talking smack about people, but the moment that it’s turned back on you, the world falls apart.

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It’s easy to make you jealous or envious

We all get a little jealous at times, it’s normal to want what other people have. But if you can’t be happy for anyone and not feel threatened by their possessions or success, then it’s your issue, not theirs.

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It’s all about you, right? 

Taking care of yourself is one thing and making sure that you’re secure in your own skin is fine. But if you want the world to bow to your whims, good luck with that because it won’t happen.

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Real communication is tricky for you

It’s about more than just talking to someone in a respectful manner since communication is about how you act around people as well. If you find that you can’t focus on respecting others then you might need to back off and reassess how you treat people.

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You need to work on boundaries

Do you go through your partner’s phone? Do you need to know everything about your coworkers and their personal lives? That’s not creating boundaries, it’s placing yourself in a space where you don’t belong, and a lot of people are going to make it clear that you’re not welcome.

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Somehow you’re always the target of others 

If you always appear to be on the receiving end of one bit of bad luck or another it’s evident that you might need to change your lifestyle. Sitting back and crying about it to anyone who will listen is a lot of noise and one of the more annoying toxic traits that no one wants to deal with.

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You’re a control freak

It’s a great feeling when you have a firm hold on things you can control, but it’s important to realize that life doesn’t bend to your every whim. Anything that’s outside of your sphere of influence is going to defy you, and rightly so.

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You treat yourself like garbage

Self-deprecating humor is amusing and can be harmless in many ways. It’s good to get a laugh at your expense since it shows you have thick skin. But beneath that thin veneer one needs to have enough self-respect to know that you’re worth something, even if you joke about yourself on occasion.

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Being nice is an act 

In other words, you’re an opportunist and pick your moments. You don’t bother being nice unless it’s going to get you something. The trick to this is that if you’re genuinely nice, people will want to spend time with you and give you things, now and then, because they enjoy your company.

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You have this insane need to take control of a conversation

You actively cut people off and start talking about your own life at the expense of a conversation. Do you enjoy listening to people prattle on about themselves? Most people don’t, since they want to chime in occasionally too.

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Constructive criticism is an alien concept to you

When everything a person says about something you’ve done or said feels like an attack, you have a bit of growing up to do. People are genuinely trying to help you when they give constructive feedback, usually because they see something in your work, or you, that’s worth supporting.

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You have a superiority complex

Suppose you get the feeling that you’re superior to others most of the time then you need a serious reality check. Sure, you might be better than others at something, and self-confidence is great. But humility takes you further than outright arrogance. As toxic traits go, this is highly annoying.

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You have this insane need to talk about others 

Gossip happens, that’s a fact. But if you’re the one starting it then you’re the festering stewpot that gets the trouble brewing, not the harmless individual that just passes it along.

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You blame others, a lot 

The world is out to get you, right? The truth is that the world could forget you and not lose a wink of sleep. Taking responsibility is how to get the world to remember you in a positive light, and to eliminate one of the worst toxic traits.

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It’s all about you

Seriously, you don’t care about anyone else unless it’s going to benefit you, which is one of the worst toxic traits. The worst part about this red flag is that a lot of people who exhibit it think that it’s nothing more than self-love.

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People give and you just take

People try to give you things and hope that you’ll be grateful, but you just keep taking them and don’t bother to reciprocate. Even a ‘thank you’ is polite, but those who fly this red flag don’t often bother with such niceties.