There are several reasons why people may repeat toxic cycles in relationships:
Familiarity: People tend to gravitate towards what is familiar, even if it is unhealthy. This can happen because we may have grown up in dysfunctional or unhealthy environments, and we learned to adapt to these circumstances as a way of survival. As a result, we may feel more comfortable in relationships that mirror these past experiences, even if they are toxic.
Low self-esteem: People with low self-esteem may believe that they do not deserve healthy relationships and may unconsciously seek out partners who treat them poorly. This can lead to a pattern of repeatedly entering into toxic relationships.
Lack of boundaries: People who lack boundaries may struggle to set and enforce healthy boundaries in relationships. This can make them more susceptible to toxic behaviors from partners, leading to a cycle of repeating toxic patterns.
Unresolved trauma: People who have experienced trauma may find themselves repeating toxic patterns in relationships as a way of processing or reenacting their past experiences. This can happen even if they are not aware of it.
Fear of being alone: People may stay in toxic relationships out of fear of being alone or because they believe that any relationship is better than no relationship. This can lead to a pattern of repeatedly entering into and staying in toxic relationships.
Breaking the cycle of toxic relationships requires self-awareness, setting and enforcing healthy boundaries, seeking help from a therapist, and learning to love and respect oneself.