© Shutterstock

They don't respect your boundaries -

Personal boundaries should be respected. If your family trespasses what you deem as acceptable and not acceptable, that's a bad sign. Your personal boundaries should be respected at all times.

© Shutterstock

They are abusive -

There are several types of abusive behavior, and none is acceptable within a family (or outside one, for that matter). No one has the right to physically or emotionally abuse you, and that includes any members of your family. 

© Shutterstock

They put their needs first -

Perhaps you feel like your needs are not met, and that things tend to go one-sided. This might be a sign that a family member puts him/herself first and doesn't really consider or care about your needs. 

© Shutterstock

They don't show any interest in your life -

Simply asking about one's life can be a sign of interest, but if even a simple "How are you?" is missing, that's a red flag. 

© Shutterstock

They neglect you -

This happens more often than not. Although not always intentional, it can really leave some serious emotional wounds when it happens to a child. You might not realize this until you reach adulthood. 

© Shutterstock

Your wants and needs don't really exist for them -

Ignoring your wants and needs, especially as a child, can have a significant impact in your adult life. If this happened to you in your past, there might be some healing to be done. 

© Shutterstock

They never call or text -

If your family never gets in touch, you could just not be that close, or it could be a sign that they don't really care about you. 

© Shutterstock

You're not invited to family gatherings -

From holidays to birthdays, if you're often left out of family events, it's likely these people don't really want to be with you. 

© Shutterstock

They're not present in your important moments -

Significant life events can feel better with our loved ones around us. But if your family members constantly flake on your birthday parties, graduations, etc., there's your cue.

© Shutterstock

They are very critical of you -

If you are getting criticized all the time, regardless of what you do, then whoever is doing this to you is not worth your time and love. 

© Shutterstock

They don't support you -

You have dreams and ambitions, and you win and lose like everyone else. The last thing you need is unsupportive family members. Surely you don't need any more naysayers in your life.

© Shutterstock

They try to control you -

Parents in particular can be quite controlling. A certain degree is acceptable up to a certain stage of one's life, but if you're an adult and your parents keep wanting to control every aspect of your life, that's pretty toxic.  

© Shutterstock

They constantly blame you -

If your family plays the blame game all the time, that's your red flag right there. Taking responsibility for one's actions is what healthy, mature people do, not blaming others. 

© Shutterstock

They only reach out when they need something from you -

This is a classic, right? That one family member that only calls you when they need something. These people are usually selfish and don't really bring much to your life. 

© Shutterstock

They make fun of you...for fun -

Humiliating someone just to be funny at a family gathering is more common than some people might imagine. It's a form of abuse though, and should not be tolerated.

© Shutterstock

They gaslight you -

Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation based on making you doubt yourself in order to gain advantage. This is sometimes not easy to spot, but if a family member tries to convince you that you're crazy, then pay attention to what this person might actually want from you.

© Shutterstock

They invalidate your feelings -

If you find no empathy in your family for whatever you are going through in your life, then this is not a relationship you want to maintain. If someone dismisses your feelings and tells you to snap out of it, or something along those lines, then they are invalidating your feelings.

© Shutterstock

They never have time for you -

When you like something and want it in your life, you make time for it. People are no different. So, if a family member never has time for you, it usually means that they don't want to create space for you in their lives. 

© Shutterstock

They compete with you -

We're not talking about healthy sibling rivalry. We're talking about real competition. This can happen between siblings, but it's also common among parents and children. 

© Shutterstock

They don't speak your love language -

Everyone has a love language, and at least your close family members should know you well enough to speak yours. 

© Shutterstock

They don't accept who you are -

If your family doesn't accept who you really are, or if they don't let you be yourself, then you won't ever feel good around them. Everyone is unique, and you should have the space to express this within your family. 

© Shutterstock

Your opinion doesn't really matter -

If your family never listens to you and doesn't value your opinion, you will tend to keep it to yourself. This is not a healthy habit to pick up, nor is it a healthy family dynamic. 

© Shutterstock

You're always wrong -

If they do listen to you but always disagree with your opinion, sometimes just for the sake sake of it, that's equally toxic. 

© Shutterstock

They give you false apologies -

Apologizing when a person doesn't mean it is not only a huge insult, but also a surefire way to maintain a broken relationship within the family. Keep an eye out for these. 

© Shutterstock

They break their promises -

Breaking trust can be irreparable on some occasions. If a family member (or anyone else, for that matter) promises you something, you should rightly expect the person to keep their promise. 

© Shutterstock

They sabotage you -

They can act out of envy or jealousy, or they might just not like you for some reason. Family should be a place where you feel supported, not a place where you have to be alert. 

© Shutterstock

They make you feel guilty for your needs -

Making you feel like there is something wrong with you and your needs is powerful stuff, and it can affect your relationships outside of the family as well. 

© Shutterstock

They make fun of you for talking about your needs -

If you manage to healthily express your needs but they make fun of you for it, that's just another way of invalidating your needs and making you feel like your emotions don't really matter. They're also clearly not open to healthy communication. 

© Shutterstock

You're never good enough -

Family should be the encouraging base we all bloom within, a safe space where we feel loved and supported. If they make you feel like you're not good enough, your self-esteem will take a hit and you'll feel inadequate for so much of your life.

© Shutterstock

They don't support your life choices -

Not agreeing with your life choices is different from not supporting them. You family doesn't have to like what you do, but they should be able to support you no matter what choices you make in your own best interest. 

© Shutterstock

You don't feel loved -

The bottom line is: you should feel loved by your family. If you don't, surely something is not right. Addressing the problem sooner will save you tons on therapy bills later. 

Sources: (Coaching Online) (Up Journey) (A Conscious Rethink)

See also: Celebrities who have cut ties with family members

© Shutterstock