Ashley Tisdale's "toxic" mom group essay has everyone talking, but the effects she experienced aren't limited to Hollywood. Us Weekly spoke to several mental health experts, who broke down the telltale signs of a toxic mom group, the effects these social circles have on the psyche, coping mechanisms and how to exit while protecting your peace. To understand the full picture, we must first dive into Tisdale's essay. Tisdale's Essay About Her Toxic Mom Group Tisdale, 40, made headlines when she dropped an essay last week about ditching her "toxic" mom group after feeling "isolated." "I remember being left out of a couple of group hangs, and I knew about them because Instagram made sure it fed me every single photo and Instagram Story," she wrote in her essay for The Cut. "I was starting to feel frozen out of the group, noticing every way that they seemed to exclude me. ... I told myself it was all in my head, and it wasn't a big deal. And yet, I could sense a growing distance between me and the other members of the group, who seemed to not even care that I wasn't around much." The High School Musical star did not identify who was part of the social circle, but many believed she was talking about her famous mom group, which included Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore and Meghan Trainor. Tisdale's rep later denied those claims. What Is a Toxic Mom Group? Definition Explored Jillian Amodio, a licensed therapist, psychology professor and founder of Mom's for Mental Health, tells Us that "toxic groups are those that are judgmental, overly critical, make you feel bad about yourself, blame or gaslight, shame, insult, ridicule or exclude you. They can be manipulative and pit members against each other; a hierarchy can form based on perceived loyalty, status or other shallow factors." Candace Blecha, a licensed marriage and family therapist and owner of Double Heart Therapy, explained that from a clinical standpoint, "a toxic mom group often appears supportive, inclusive and community-oriented on the surface, but underneath operates through judgment, comparison and subtle invalidation." Dr. Sarah Oreck, a licensed psychiatrist and therapist and cofounder and CEO of Mavida Health, warned that this kind of dynamic "doesn't happen in a vacuum," noting, "We live in a culture that isolates mothers." Jennell Casillas, a licensed perinatal mental health therapist, who focuses on women's mental health and women's reproductive mental health, said that toxic mom groups tend to hold strong beliefs and opinions on medical interventions, education, religious views or family structure views. "As for being exclusionary, that's another complicated human phenomenon. Exclusionary behavior tends to happen for a few reasons. We gather according to like-minded groups, we want to feel seen, heard and understood. When we feel 'left out,' we no longer feel desired or safe," she told Us. Courtesy of Hilary Duff/Instagram Warning Signs of a Toxic Mom Group Oreck shared that the simplest test to see if your mom group is harming your mental health is to ask yourself: How do I feel after spending time or engaging with this group? Am I more anxious or self-critical and constantly second-guessing my choices? "If you're answering yes to several of these, that's your sign. A truly supportive group should fill your cup and leave you feeling more grounded and less alone - not more uncertain and isolated," she said. Blecha said to trust your gut. "Often, the first sign is intuitive rather than intellectual ... a feeling that something is off," she explained. "Red flags include increased self-doubt after interactions, questioning one's competence as a mother, or feeling emotionally 'smaller' after group engagement." Ashley Tisdale Reveals the Reason Why She Left Her 'Toxic' Mom Group How Toxic Mom Groups Affect Mental Health All four experts agree that if you're feeling any of the symptoms outlined below after interacting with your mom group, it's time to reevaluate the relationship. "Anxiety and depression are quite common and often lead to feelings of worthlessness and self-doubt," Amodio cautioned. "Loneliness is not only 'being' alone, you can also 'feel' alone even when surrounded by people if they are not supportive and accepting." Oreck shared that there are four main patterns she sees in patients experiencing toxic friendships: anxiety, depression, burnout and relationship strain. "The anxiety shows up as constant second-guessing and decision paralysis," she said, adding, "Depression manifests as shame and inadequacy." She noted that "burnout is almost inevitable," and "when online communities feel like your only lifeline, judgment there cuts especially deep. Relationship strain follows because the isolation and inequity are unsustainable." According to Oreck, the toxicity isn't just between moms. "It's baked into how we've structured motherhood in America." Ashley Tisdale Addresses Rumors Mandy Moore, Hilary Duff Are 'Toxic' Mom Friends When to Leave a Toxic