If you have identified contaminated people in your life, it is time for you to do something about it. As you begin this journey, you must understand that you will never be able to change another human being. You can only change yourself. You can help others with advice and support, but you will never change another person.

The first step in confronting the contaminated person is to talk to them. Let them know that the relationship is not working and that things have to improve. It can be dangerous and unhealthy to give ultimatums at this point, but you need to be firm in your resolve to make your life better. Explain to them in detail just how you feel about the way they treat you. Let them know that you are suffering as a result of their attitudes, abuse, verbiage, or hostility.

Next, give them a chance to talk. Listen to them. It may be that they see you as the contaminated person in the relationship and there has been a misunderstanding. Listening is sometimes the best way to assess a situation.

When confronting the person, try to leave your emotions out of the picture, as they will only cloud the issues and make it harder for you to do the work that needs to be done.

Avoid yelling, screaming, demeaning language, and most of all, avoid any type of violence or altercation. If you see that the situation is becoming unproductive, leave, hang up the phone, get out of the chat room, and just leave. Nothing good will come from a negative confrontation. This may be the signal you need to move on.