Toxic is the Word of the Year according to Oxford Dictionaries and the decision was based on the fact that the number of times it has been looked up has gone up by 45 per cent in 2018, with it often being used conjointly with terms like “masculinity”, “waste” and “environment”. The word has been reiterated multiple times across the world, both literally and metaphorically, whether in reference to the spurious nerve agent poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in March or in the context of work environments and relationships in the post-MeToo world. Psychiatrists, councillors and therapists unanimously agree it is important to realise when a relationship or atmosphere becomes toxic and understand the need to walk out of it. But because it’s easier said than done, we got experts to break it down.

Moving on
A physically abusive relationship is toxic without the shadow of a doubt. But former president of the Bombay Psychiatric Society and a Consultant at Hinduja (Khar and Mahim) and Hurkisondas Hospitals, Dr Kersi Chavda says, more often than not, people are in the grip of psychologically and emotionally toxic relationships. So, if all your persistent requests to share household chores fall on your partner's deaf ears, that is not a caustic affair, and rather a case of the relationship not working out, Chavda clarifies, adding, "By and large if you are with someone who makes you feel worse rather than better, then that could be a toxic propinquity."