9 Types of Toxic People Who Will Rob You of Your Happiness

Not all people are well-disposed towards us; not all go through life intending no harm to anyone. Whether knowingly or not, toxic people aren't called that for nothing. In no time at all, they are able to poison a nice conversation group, a circle of friends, a workplace, and entire families. Their mere presence can create a bad mood and drive sensitive people away altogether. The worst thing about them is that we tend to take to heart a nasty remark or a slight from such people many times more than a compliment. That alone would be reason enough to avoid these people whenever possible. In this article we will introduce you to 9 typical representatives of this poisonous species, so that you can easily identify them.

1. The Eternal Victims

Some people have played the role of victim for their entire lives. They wallow in self-pity and never miss an opportunity to point out their pitiful situation. They are sick all the time, frequently have minor accidents, and seem to be pursued by bad luck. It was with good reason that Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche called pity the preferred weapon of the weak for blackmailing the strong. So playing the victim card is not only pathetic and manipulative. These people play with our compassion and thus trample on one of the most basic gifts of our humanity.

2. The Notorious Know-It-Alls

Here you met men—or women—who always know everything better than anyone else? They don’t even place any value upon the reasoned arguments of recognized experts. Unfortunately, knowing better is often the opposite of being smart. Therefore, this phenomenon very often affects people who are blessed with little intelligence, which then makes enduring their ridiculous monologues all the more tiring.

3. The Self-Destructors

These people also play on our instinct to help others. However, they’re much more toxic the the eternal victims. Self-destructors are really dangerous. The self-destructors apparently do everything they can to encourage us to save them, but in reality they don't want to be saved. They live their lives on the edge, which can sometimes catapult them into the abyss and beyond. They may be adrenaline junkies, people with an addiction problem, or those who repeatedly enter into relationships that are not good for them. For normal people in their immediate environment, they create a constant anxiety that feels like the struggle to juggle 10 balls above your head.

4. Those Who Always Want To Be the Center of Attention

Such people can effortlessly blow up any social gathering in no time. They are like whiny, badly behaved children, who can't let anyone finish, and have to tell their own story immediately. It doesn't matter to them whether it relates to the ongoing discussion, or whether it could even be interesting for those present. Unfortunately, they are also not only very pushy and persistent, but usually also extra loud.

5. The Supercritical

There are people who would love to explain to the sun that it illuminates the earth at the wrong angle. They are the constant complainers among us, who are constantly criticizing and can never leave others alone. They send their unsolicited complaints everywhere and bombard people with non-stop criticism. They love to find failings in others and spend their time searching for them. Needless to say, these particularly toxic people have few friends.

6. The Pathologically Jealous

Unfortunately, they are not only encountered in interpersonal relationships. Jealousy can also involve professional successes, other people's happiness, or the mere acquisition of things that the pathologically jealous do not possess. Having to live, or even get along with such people, is the purest torture. In the end you’ll realize that you can’t say anything at all to them, because they immediately get into a huff or start spitting poison and bile. They also feel compelled to badmouth and undermine anything which makes you happy.

7. The Drama Queens

Some people can take the most banal everyday situation and turn it into a full drama. Unfortunately, they not only drive up their own blood pressure, but also that of anyone nearby. Anyone who sees danger and catastrophe everywhere will eventually psychologically destroy those around them. Therefore you should also avoid the drama queens—if at all possible.

8. The Gossips

The systematic spreading of gossip is described in a famous pop song of the 80s as so-called devil's radio. Indeed. What is the effect upon our peace of mind if we are left unprotected from the terrible stream of nonsense emitted by incurable gossips? What character traits underlie the need for sensationalism? It is mainly a sick enjoyment at seeing others in difficulties that reigns here; those of low moral attainments see their own advancement in the denigration of others. In other words, they feel pulled upward to the same extent that they push others downward. Gossip addiction has nothing in common with the harmless exchange of news, or mere office gossip. It's all about discovering negative information about other people, collecting it, embellishing it a little, and spreading it as widely as possible.

9. The Selfie Generation

The development of the internet has brought forth a new kind of toxic personality to the already colorful human species—a personality type which had not existed in this form before smartphones and other connected mobile devices. This toxic type suffers the compulsion to always and everywhere snap the most perfect possible picture of himself in action (or not) and post it in real time on all social media. Not only does this type share some narcissistic personality traits, but this type is also dangerous. Now, every year, numerous people have accidents while trying to pose in the most breakneck positions for their followers. What's more, this selfie mania also annoys other people who just want to enjoy the wonderful view or the beautiful food on their plate. This is an additional tragedy of this obsession. Life is documented in real time, but no longer consciously perceived.

Today’s Conclusion: 9 Poisons Raised to the Power of 10

Don’t mess with these toxic types. They maniacally drive towards their goals, regardless of impediments. If you are not 100% for them, you are against them, and therefore you become their enemy. As with sociopaths, they have no empathy and no understanding of their surroundings. The sad thing about this is that they don't just make life difficult for others. In contrast to the classic manipulators, they themselves also seem to derive no pleasure from their actions. Their goal is not to gain power and then savor it. They are basically just insecure and undeveloped personalities who cannot escape their negativity and difficult character. Nevertheless, when dealing with them, self-defense must be prioritized over compassion for their sorry condition. That's it for today.