Dear Abby: Toxic Relationship Affects Woman’s Health

August 18, 2026 - 06:46

A reader is struggling with a relationship that has turned harmful, and the toll is showing up in her body. She wrote to the advice column describing a partner who constantly criticizes her, dismisses her feelings, and makes her feel small. Over time, she has started experiencing headaches, trouble sleeping, and a constant knot in her stomach. She knows the relationship is not healthy, but she stays because she loves him and fears being alone.

The reader asks if it is possible for emotional abuse to cause physical symptoms. The answer is yes. Chronic stress from a toxic partnership can trigger real health problems, including high blood pressure, weakened immunity, and digestive issues. The mind and body are deeply connected, and living in a state of constant anxiety wears down both.

The advice given is direct: this relationship is not just unpleasant, it is dangerous. Love should not feel like a battle for your own worth. The reader is encouraged to reach out to a therapist or a trusted friend, and to start making a plan to leave. Staying for fear of loneliness only guarantees more pain. Her health, her peace, and her future depend on taking that step. No one deserves to feel sick because of the person who should make them feel safe.