Toxic Relationship: Is Your Relationship Toxic? A healthy relationship involves mutual care, respect and compassion, an interest in our partner’s welfare and growth, and the ability to share control and decision-making, in short, a shared desire for each other’s happiness. A healthy relationship is a safe relationship, where we can be ourselves without fear, a place where we feel comfortable and secure. A toxic relationship, on the other hand, is an unsafe place. It is characterized by insecurity, self-centeredness, dominance and control. We risk our mental health and well being by staying in such a relationship. To say that a toxic relationship is dysfunctional is, to be honest, an understatement.