Problematic People & Friends. Do you know who they are in your life? Have you ever experienced a situation where you reconsidered why you ever began an exchange with them or that one particular person in the first place?

If you have a friend that you can only take in small doses, If you always encounter that one person who does all of the right things to irritate your soul just enough to make you want to molly-whop them upside the head, but not enough to make you want to end your relationship for good, you are probably dealing with a problematic person.

These people are inescapable. You might have had someone who was once a great friend and confidant, but then something changed. Something happened, and right when you believe everything is hunky-dory, that switch flips; and they do something to make your inner voice explode with violent annoyance.

I use the term problematic because these friends and people do all of the things that you would not tolerate in any other aspect of your life. If you were dealing with some random person you had no affiliation with, you would probably brush off whatever sour note you received from them and move on. But with problematic friends? It's not that easy. You want to keep them around because you love them despite the fact that sometimes you wouldn't mind them catching a baseball bat to the kneecap.

Personally, I have several. And most of these problematic people are lifelong friends. It can be a pain, but I've discovered that there are steps you can take to limit that feeling you get every single time one of them says or does something that goes against every general principle you stand for.

When you are faced with a particularly problematic person and don't know how to proceed, consider your options.

Option 1 (the most effective): Walk Away From the Situation.

If you know that pursuing whatever just happened would result in an unpleasant bout of screaming cursing and disrespect, simply walk away and brush it off. If the situation truly got under your skin, revisit it later after things have cooled off.

Option 2 (probably the most confrontational): Respectfully Check Them.

If what happened does not sit well with you, and you know it is a serious deal-breaker, put them in their place. In a manner that will not cause someone to come to blows, let them know that what happened was not okay. It's always nice when a problematic person or situation stops being so unsettling.

Option 3 (the most nuclear option): Cut That person Or Those People Out Of Your Life.

If you realize that this relationship is just not going to work out, If you have had enough of all of the foolishness, Get Out. You do not have to stay. Leave them behind and move on. Toxic situations and relationships help absolutely no one.

Problematic friends and people are everywhere. How you choose to handle them is up to you. Either deal with them, ignore them or leave the situation.