5 signs you are unknowingly being toxic to yourself, as per psychology

It is often said, 'empty vessels make more noise,' and aptly so. On the contrary, highly intelligent people don't talk much about themselves and they also doubt themselves more than others which often goes against them. Are you one of them? From self-sabotaging themselves to aiming for perfection all the time, here are some signs that prove you are unknowingly being toxic to yourself, as per psychology.

Do you always aim for perfection in whatever you do, and in the process, you end up being too self-critical? Well, this is a sign of being too toxic to yourself. How? A person who has negative self-talk and focuses on their flaws can harm their self-esteem and mental well-being in the long run. This can also damage their confidence. Remember, you too are human and can make mistakes. Being kind to yourself is a form of self-love.

If you often engage in behaviours that undermine your success, it is a form of subtly self-sabotaging your success. These behaviours include procrastination, avoiding taking responsibility due to fear of failure and not being perfect, or quitting when things get tough. Instead, one should have faith and remember to have a growth mindset to be successful in life.

Obsessively worrying about past events or future outcomes-- be it little or big things-- can lead to stress and burn out in the long run. Overthinking and being too critical can also make you make poor decisions in life.

In order to appear perfect and proper all the time, do you often end up bottling up your feelings and emotions? Well, ignoring your feelings instead of sitting with them and processing them in a healthy way, can eventually lead to emotional outbursts. Over time, it can also lead to stress and depression. Being well-balanced includes learning to accept and regulate one's emotions well to be successful in life, instead of ignoring them.

Not being able to say a 'No' when needed is a form of toxic behaviour towards oneself. How? Because you end up taking more work or responsibilities and doing things which you don't truly want to do. This can make you feel resentful over a period of time. It is important to communicate clearly and effectively and set healthy boundaries for your mental and emotional well-being. Remember, if you let people overstep your boundaries, it can lead to burnout, resentment, and feeling overwhelmed.