Quora Question: How do you end and stay away from a toxic relationship?

You make a clear set of red-line rules that you commit to keeping and walking away the minute any of those lines is crossed. Here are some I would suggest:

• He is unkind to people, waiters, clerks, support staff, people he doesn't owe anything to, like that.
• He tries to put a wedge between you and your family and friends.
• He pushes you to be someone you don't want to be or do things you don't want to do.
• He causes you to question your reason or sanity.
• He makes you feel small, or ugly, or unworthy.
• He talks about how lucky you are to have him, rather than the other way around.

If you are in one of these already, you develop an exit plan. If there is any fear he might get violent, you make sure you have the right support around.

Obviously, you can swap the sexes. It goes both ways.