We cannot judge people who find it hard to let go of someone toxic because we all live differently. For some, letting toxic people go is just a piece of a cake. However, in other’s cases, it might be a battle between life and death to let go of someone despite the toxicity. Here’s why:

Research shows that there are factors that can affect a person’s emotional detachment with someone. These are the level of attachment, the nature of the relationship, past experiences and individual coping mechanisms.

Attachment level is something most people find difficult to control. The longer time you spend with someone, the attachment level also gets deeper. So if you’ve been with someone for so long, detaching from them might take time.

Relationship nature is the type of relationship you have with the person. There are kinds of relationships that are built on emotional intimacy, friendship and physical attachment. Your ability to let go of your relationship also depends on those kinds mentioned above.

Past experiences are what your previous experiences were with the person. For instance, you’ve been through the ups and downs. You’ve encountered serious life problems that others find it hard to surpass. And it indeed made your relationship stronger to the point that it seems impossible to break up.

Coping mechanisms happen when you need to cope from difficult situations through staying beside them even when they get toxic.

While all of these can be valid reasons to feel, it is still not good to endure toxicity. I hope you spend some time reassessing the things in your life. Pick your battles wisely and make sure you overcome them. Hope this helps.