The Toxic Behaviors Displayed By Emotionally Reactive People That Ruin Relationships

They Overreact To Small Situations

While most people are able to filter between small inconvenieces and big problems, emotionally reactive people see all problems as overhwelming no matter where they fall on the scale. As soon as they encounter an obstacle, their body goes into a fight or flight response and they prepare themselves for whatever threat it may bring.

Often being emotionally reactive doesn't start out of nowhere and is part of a self defense mechanism that the body learns it needs to survive based on past bad experiences.

It's Their Way Or The Highway

Emotionally reactive people need to feel as much control as possible, so they like for everything to be done exactly to their liking so that they can predict how it would play out. The more control they feel, the more they feel safe because there is no unknown that they might have to protect themselves from.

However, this also means that they can be controlling over others and get angry when they feel like they're losing their grasp and are encountering variables they no longer can control. They react explosively out of anxiety the fewer things go their way.

They Feel Like A Victim To Circumstance

Because emotionally reactive people are usually stuck in a feedback loop where their toxic reactions attract back bad situations, they victimize themselves and give up. They start convincing me that there's no point in trying because they will always end up back where they started anyway and that they are some of the unlucky ones.

However, the less they take accountability and fight their way out with healthy coping mechanisms, the less they're able to control their reactions and break out of the pattern.

When They're Angry They See Red

Emotionally reactive people have a bad temper. Because they're not fully aware of the root of their issues and what triggers them, they can go from being pleasant to be around to suddenly yelling and calling people names. Sometimes, they feel rage so deeply that they feel a need to get physically agressive to release it.

This is because they feel an overhwelming charge of emotion that they don't yet know where to channel. They need to be able to release the underlying emotions before they build up.

They Only Hear What They Want To Hear

This can be a blessing and a curse. On one hand, they live life blissfully, for the most part, only noticing what benefits them. On the other hand, this behavior can feel really frustrating for people who feel like they're talking to a wall.

This is a coping mechanism that is learned from childhood. Basically, emotionally reactive people don't necessarily like how reactive they are but also don't know how to control it. So they assume that if they only listen to what they want to hear, they won't find a reason to spiral.

Not A Bad Person

Emotionally reactive people don't mean to be angry, sensitive, not listen, or make you feel like you have to hide your own feelings or walk on eggshells. They just feel a lot of emotion deeply and haven't yet learned how to control them.

Remember that if you're an emotionally reactive person, by examining the root of your issues, you can break the pattern. If you're in a relationship with a reactive person, you can only do so much to bring awareness to their behavior. It's up to them to do the work, you can't fix them.

Change Is Within Us All

Emotionally reactive people aren't necessarily narcissists, even though narcissists tend to be emotionally reactive. the first step to breaking out of this pattern is becoming aware of it. Sometimes it takes walking away from a relationship or loved one to figure yourself out in order to make it work.

In any relationship, always look at how you feel and ask yourself: does this person make you love yourself more? Do you want to grow old with them?

Love is more than just kisses and butterflies, it's much more than that. If you want to know more on what your birth chart reveals about how you love and what you need out of a partner, check out this personalized report based on date of birth.