Toxic loyalty: You're Not the Only One

Staying loyal to people or situations that hurt you

36 people have shared thoughts about this

But man, the CRITICISM. …

toxic loyalty

And a mother who thinks I’m an ATM. …

toxic loyalty

I just open my mouth and the words come out, all sunshine and rainbows, like "Oh, Dad’s just been SO stressed with work lately, you know how it is in construction, it’s just REALLY a lot right now. …

toxic loyalty

You know that feeling when your stomach just DROPS out the bottom of you? …

toxic loyalty

And the gambling… oh my god, the gambling. …

toxic loyalty

I guess I just need to say it because it’s 2am and I’m staring at my ceiling thinking about how my life turned into this weird lie. …

toxic loyalty

I keep going back to that house every saturday and I dont know why. …

toxic loyalty

My father was so proud—he cried when he shook his hand. …

family obligation guilt

I’ve spent forty years making excuses for Arthur and honestly... …

toxic loyalty

I’ve maintained a specific financial surplus in a private vessel for nearly two decades now. …

financial hiding

Just this endless loop of refreshing the page to see who else I needed to shut down. …

toxic loyalty

I have been my sister’s bank for forty-two years. …

family obligation guilt

I look at the balance in my private account—the one my father left me, the one Mark will never see—and I feel this white-hot surge of adrenaline that I haven't felt since I was in uniform. …

secret family resentment

She told her friends I was "the family miser" and that I'm obsessed with money like a little old man. …

sibling jealousy

Because if I stop, the whole house of cards collapses. …

secret beliefs

My sisters back home in Manila told me it was my DUTY... …

family obligation guilt

Explore Related Themes

Family obligation guiltHidden relationship doubtsParentificationParenting insecuritiesSecret resentment toward familySibling jealousy

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I the only one who experiences toxic loyalty?▾
No — 36 people have shared anonymous thoughts about toxic loyalty on this platform. It's a common human experience that many keep hidden.
Is it normal to have thoughts about toxic loyalty?▾
These thoughts and feelings are more common than most people realize. By sharing anonymously, people often discover that what felt uniquely shameful is actually a shared human experience.
How can sharing anonymously help?▾
Research shows that expressing hidden thoughts — even anonymously — can reduce shame and help people feel less isolated. Seeing others share similar experiences normalizes what you're going through.

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