It might be the teammate who takes credit for your work. Or, maybe your colleague’s negativity drags everyone down.

Toxic coworkers can drain you of the mental strength you need to do your best if you let them. Here are five strategies for staying strong even when you work with the most difficult people:

1. Resist the temptation to complain.

It can be tempting to turn to another coworker and say, “Can you believe he said that at the meeting?” But venting to other people and trying to get them to confirm your beliefs isn’t healthy.

Whether you send emails to your other coworkers to complain about the toxic individual, or you vent to your partner when you get home, complaining keeps you stuck in a negative state.

The more time and energy you spend complaining, the more space you allow a toxic person to take up in your life. Commit to filling your life with positive people and productive experiences and give toxic people less air time.

2. Retain your personal power.

Saying that your coworker makes you feel bad about yourself or claiming that your boss ruined your day, implies you aren’t in control.

You’re in control of how you think, feel, and behave. Decide that someone else’s bad behavior, poor attitude, or toxic choices won’t drag you down.

3. Focus on controlling yourself, not anyone else.

It’s easy to invest energy into wishing your coworker would become a team player or hoping that your colleague will change departments. But, wishful thinking wastes your valuable resources—time and mental energy.

You can’t control your coworkers. You can only control how you respond to them.

So put that same energy into taking positive action. Whether you decide your best option is to confront your coworker, or you think your best choice is to put your energy into biting your tongue, use your resources wisely.

4. Have a direct conversation.

When it comes to dealing with a toxic person, you don’t have to stay passive. Instead, establish boundaries that make your expectations clear. Just keep in mind, you can’t change the other person’s personality but you can call them out on specific behaviors.

That may mean confronting someone head-on and saying, “I understand you’ve been telling people that I don’t know what I’m doing.” Or, it may mean saying, “I was talking and you interrupted. I’m going to finish what I had to say.”

You may also need to set limits by saying something like, “This sounds like gossip and I don't want to hear it." People who aren't used to having boundaries set with them—and many toxic people aren’t—often get upset when someone draws a line in the sand.

But holding a direct conversation and setting firm boundaries can save you from feeling more stress in the long-term. Just be prepared for how you’ll respond if the problem continues to happen.

5. Practice healthy coping skills.

Dealing with a toxic coworker can take a serious toll on you. It’s important to practice healthy coping skills to help you stay strong in the midst of a stressful situation.

Take care of your mind and your body. It’s impossible to stay mentally strong if you’re eating a poor diet or you’re not getting adequate sleep. Get plenty of exercises to help you combat the negative effects of stress.

Experiment with a variety of coping skills, like gratitude and meditation. Incorporate plenty of social and leisure activities into your life so that your world doesn’t revolve around your toxic coworker.

If your work environment is taking a toll on you, elevate the issue to the next level. If you’re being bullied, ostracized, or harassed, it’s especially important to talk to your human resources department.

If your stress levels are impairing your ability to perform well or you’re feeling anxious or depressed, get professional help. Talk to your physician about what you’re experiencing to see if you might benefit from a referral to a therapist.