To feel that the term ‘toxic’ is overused in conversations about relationships?

[WorthyOrca]

It feels like every disagreement or challenging relationship gets labelled as ‘toxic’ these days. AIBU to think this term has lost its meaning and is often misapplied?

Yes, absolutely. It’s a largely meaningless pop psychology term which is usually used to mean ‘someone who behaves badly to me’, but labelling that person ‘toxic’ gives it an air of faux-objectivity.

Yep. All less than perfect relationships are toxic and every single ex on earth is a narcissist.

Yes I agree with this! Along with “gaslighting”. It’s used SO much on here and often completely incorrect meaning.

Yep, and ‘abusive’

Yes. When someone uses the term "toxic" about a person it just seems like shorthand for saying "They are the one at fault and I am simply going to discount in advance the possibility that the we are both bringing challenging aspects of our personality into the relationship."

I find it a reasonably accurate tool for establishing that somebody isn’t somebody I’m going to benefit from knowing better. Anyone who seems to have a lot of people in their life who they describe as toxic or a narcissist is generally an utter pain in the backside and a shit stirrer of drama themselves.