We're all likely to have one or two toxic people in our lives—colleagues and bosses, lovers and ex-spouses, people we thought were friends, acquaintances of friends, uncooperative neighbors, and many others. Family members are a group unlike any other. one another, because we are related to them by kinship. This means that they can be much more difficult to deal with simply because we think we can’t get rid of them. This is much more difficult when people are blood relatives, and when, since you are family, you will likely need to be there for them on many occasions. Close and personal toxic family members could be your parents, your siblings, aunts, uncles , grandparents and anyone remotely related to any of them. It's hard to cut people off when others close to you are still connected to them. It's hard to cut people off when other family members have opinions and try to weigh in. Being related complicates things, but the fact is that when all else fails, we can and often should cut certain family members out of our lives. But first of all, just for review, what makes a person toxic? Here are just a few of the main characteristics: They manipulate. They will do whatever they need to control you and any situation that they feel is in their best interest. They blame others for everything, especially things they don't want to admit about themselves. They rarely say they regret their actions. They take no responsibility for their actions. In their minds, they can do no wrong. They don't care about anyone else's thoughts, feelings, or needs. They are often critical, judgmental, and cruel. There is simply no emotional filter, and I see no point in controlling their expression - yelling, name-calling, etc. They make you feel guilty for things you didn't do. They lie and cheat to get their way. Here are five ways to deal with toxic family members .1. Create boundaries. Okay, easier said than done, but very important to do. Of course, it's easy to get caught up in the web of toxic behavior if you're new to the game, meaning you've just begun to experience what it's like to be around a toxic person. If you're experienced, that means you've probably already done a few rounds with family members and gotten the hang of it. (You'll never actually get the hang of it or want to.) Figuring out how to set boundaries can take some time, especially if you have few or no boundaries in your family or with specific family members. The point is that toxic people don't want you to have boundaries because they have a harder time controlling someone who isn't available to them. A toxic person lives by invading other people's boundaries. This way they can say and do whatever they want at any time. Creating boundaries limits their behavior in many ways.2. Limit your contacts. This can be difficult to do, especially since family members often get together for different occasions. And while you may not be able to avoid this contact completely, you can find ways to surround yourself with people you actually get along with to keep you away from a toxic family. And for the love of God, don't let yourself be cornered in a room alone. Don't trust a family member you can't trust. Do not provide personal information that could be used against you. If you must communicate at all, keep it direct and simple. As soon as you sense an argument or confrontation, do not engage. Rather, leave the space as quickly as you can.3. Don't get involved. In addition to limiting your contacts, it is important not to play along with any interaction, especially when it is provocative or controversial. Sometimes it's hard to hold your tongue when someone says and does outrageous things, but it's important to learn to do so for your own good and sanity. Anything you say can be