11 Types Of Toxic People You Need To Cut Out Of Your Life

This article may contain affiliate links, learn more.

Life is already complicated to navigate on one's own, and that's the case for every single one of us. It becomes a lot harder, though, when we have a negative presence hanging around, one that leaves us feeling tired, drained, and hopeless.

It's not always easy to identify these toxic people, as they can sometimes disguise their harmful traits under the guise of friendship or concern. However, once you become aware of their negative impact, you have to make a choice. Keep them around and keep getting hurt, or cut them off and feel free.

Having these types of people in your life can really wear away your confidence, but it doesn't need to stay that way. You can reclaim your power quickly and easily, starting right now.

This audio program will teach you how to regain your confidence, building you up so you feel more powerful than ever before. Click here to learn more and reach new heights today.

Severing The Tie

A woman leaning her head on her hand as she gazes out a window sadly.
Canva Pro
Canva Pro

It comes as no surprise that toxic people can drain you, seeping your energy out and leaving you exhausted at the end of the day. What most people don't realize is just how many types of toxic people there are and the different ways in which they can become leeches onto your life.

Sometimes, the only solution for dealing with these people is cutting them out of your life completely, as harsh as that sounds. Here are just some of the types of toxic people you're better off not keeping around.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Constant Critic

ADVERTISEMENT
A woman speaking to a male coworker about a project, appearing critical or judgemental.
Canva Pro
Canva Pro
ADVERTISEMENT

The constant critic is someone who always finds fault in everything you do. Their perpetual negativity can wear away at your self-esteem and make you doubt yourself, even in areas you're confident about. This type of person often masks their criticism as "constructive feedback," but their true intention is to belittle and undermine you.

ADVERTISEMENT

Putting distance between yourself and this type of person, filling the space instead with supportive and encouraging friends, will do wonders for your self-esteem. Remember, constructive criticism is valuable, but constant negativity is not.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Drama Magnet

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A greyscale close shot of a woman's face, a hand posed dramatically by her neck as she looks off to the side.
Canva Pro
Canva Pro
ADVERTISEMENT

Drama magnets thrive on chaos and often create unnecessary conflict to feel a thrill. They can make your life stressful and unpredictable in this way. These people tend to exaggerate situations and blow things out of proportion, dragging you into their whirlwind to spread their chaos even further.

ADVERTISEMENT

By cutting these people out of your life, you'll find that life is much more calm and stable than they lead you to believe. Remember that you're not responsible for anyone else's issues, especially ones they cause themselves, nor should you ever be made to feel that way.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Energy Vampire

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A woman sitting inside, leaning her face in her hand, eyes closed, looking tired.
Canva Pro
Canva Pro
ADVERTISEMENT

Energy vampires are people who leave you feeling exhausted after every interaction. They feed off your emotional energy, leaving you depleted, tired, and worse for wear. These people often have a knack for turning every conversation into a venting session about their problems without offering any support in return.

ADVERTISEMENT

By pushing these people out of your life while also prioritizing self-care and comfort, you'll find that your soul feels lighter and less weary. Friends venting or trusting you with their issues isn't the problem, only when someone makes that your entire relationship does it become an issue.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Manipulator

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A darkly lit shot of a man with his hands together, looking at the camera in a dark, conniving manner.
Canva Pro
Canva Pro
ADVERTISEMENT

Manipulators use deceit and cunning to control and exploit you for their benefit. They can make you feel powerless and trapped as if your own life is out of your hands. These people are often skilled at playing mind games, convincing you to break your boundaries, and making you question your own judgment.

ADVERTISEMENT

Understanding their tactics and cutting them out of your life as soon as you notice them is vital for reclaiming your autonomy. It's important to trust your instincts and recognize when someone is trying to manipulate you. By distancing yourself from manipulators, you can regain control over your life and make decisions that are in your best interest.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Jealous Competitor

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A man sitting next to a woman on a couch. She has her face in her hands while he points at her accusatorily.
Canva Pro
Canva Pro
ADVERTISEMENT

Jealous competitors are people who are constantly envious of your achievements, so much so that they try to undermine your success. Their one-sided rivalry can create a toxic environment for not just you but everyone around you, stifling your growth and even sabotaging your work.

ADVERTISEMENT

It's important to distance yourself from these people before their jealousy really ruins something. Surrounding yourself instead with people who genuinely celebrate your successes can boost your confidence and motivate you to reach your full potential. True friends are happy about your achievements and want to support your growth, not hinder it.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Chronic Liar

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A close shot of someone crossing their fingers behind their back, presumably lying as they do so.
Canva Pro
Canva Pro
ADVERTISEMENT

Chronic liars are people who habitually lie about just about everything, making it difficult to trust them in any respect. Their dishonesty can erode trust, severely damaging their relationships in the process. They often lie to cover up their mistakes or to manipulate others for their benefit.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cutting these types of people out of your life is a necessity, as you'll never be able to trust a word they say. After all, trust is the foundation of any strong relationship, and without it, you'll only face stress and dysfunction.

Don't let toxic people keep you down, reclaim your confidence today, click here to learn how.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Narcissist

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A hand mirror where we can see most of a woman's face in the reflection as she looks at herself.
Canva Pro
Canva Pro
ADVERTISEMENT

Narcissists, perhaps the most infamous entry here, are self-absorbed people who prioritize their needs above everyone else's. They make you feel insignificant and undervalued by never considering anyone else, ever. They lack empathy, are motivated by selfishness, and have an inflated sense of self-importance.

ADVERTISEMENT

The narcissist can really get under your skin, subtly wearing away at your confidence until you're left as a shell of your former self, letting them easily slot themself above you. Cutting them off divisively and swiftly is the best way to protect yourself.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Victim

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A woman holding her head in her hands, looking stressed.
Canva Pro
Canva Pro
ADVERTISEMENT

Chronic victims are people who constantly see themselves as the wronged party, no matter what actually happened, and are always seeking sympathy from others. Their perpetual self-pity can drain you of your empathy, making you feel overwhelmed and unable to share your own pain with them. These people often refuse to take responsibility for their actions and solely blame others for their problems.

ADVERTISEMENT

It's important to set boundaries with these types in order to protect your emotional well-being. While it's natural and good to want to help others, you must recognize when someone is taking advantage of your empathy for their own gain.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Gossip

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Two women talking at a cafe, seeming to be gossiping.
Canva Pro
Canva Pro
ADVERTISEMENT

Gossips thrive on spreading rumors and misinformation, often causing harm to others along the way but never caring about the damage they do. Their behavior creates a toxic environment for all involved, be they subject or listener. They enjoy stirring up trouble and may even fabricate stories entirely to gain attention.

ADVERTISEMENT

By dropping the gossip in your life, you open up space for more respectful relationships where open, honest, clear communication is key. You can create better trust by eliminating the source of drama in your circles.

ADVERTISEMENT

The User

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A man is leaning his head on a woman's shoulder. He looks pleading while she looks annoyed.
Canva Pro
Canva Pro
ADVERTISEMENT

Users are people who take advantage of your kindness and generosity without giving anything in return. They leave you feeling used and unappreciated as they take all you're willing to hand to them. They feel entitled to these acts of friendship with no reciprocation and expect others to cater to their needs.

ADVERTISEMENT

It makes sense to be kind to someone who seems to be your friend, but always remember that a true friend would want to return all the good you do for them. By cutting these types out of your life, you create more space to do nice things for the friends who'll actually appreciate you.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Pessimist

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A darkly lit shot of a woman sitting on a bed with a hand on her forehead, looking sad.
Canva Pro
Canva Pro
ADVERTISEMENT

Pessimists are people who always see the negative side of things. They don't see hope, nor can they conceive of a positive outcome; they only carry constant negativity that can affect your outlook on life and hurt your ability to stay positive. They're the type to focus solely on problems rather than solutions, discouraging others from trying to solve things properly in the process.

ADVERTISEMENT

This is perhaps the type of person it hurts most to leave, as you don't want to give them another reason to be sad, but sometimes that type of tough love is needed for them to make a change.

ADVERTISEMENT

Finding Your Freedom

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A woman sitting by large windowed doors, holding a mug, smiling contently.
Canva Pro
Canva Pro
ADVERTISEMENT

Cutting toxic people out of your life is never an easy task. Feelings will be hurt, bridges will be burned, but it's absolutely vital for keeping your heart and soul happy. There will always be pain on the journey toward a healthier life, but it's a pain that will make you stronger by teaching you what kind of behavior never to tolerate again.

ADVERTISEMENT

Your well-being should always be your top priority. Removing these types of toxic people in your life paves the way for healthier relationships of all kinds in the future, ones you never would have been able to find with all those dark clouds blocking your view.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A purple textured background with a large, semi-transparent graphic of Higher Perspective's mandala logo rising from the lower right corner. There's white text that reads,
Canva pro
Canva pro
ADVERTISEMENT

To sign up for the Higher Perspectives weekly newsletter and get more articles delivered right to your inbox, click here.