As the years move along in our life, some of our friend groups might change. Or maybe you still have your bestie from kindergarten. Whatever your current situation might be, we all have experienced a toxic friend.
Toxic friendships are not healthy for us mentally or emotionally. It can be difficult to let go of a friend you felt close with, however, if it’s more work to maintain the friendship than to have one, then let that friend go!
Here are a few signs of toxic friendships and how to deal with them…
The relationship drama friend
Have you ever had a friend who only comes to you when they need advice about their toxic relationship? But they never ask how you are doing? Or they never want to talk about anything else but their relationship drama? I hate to break it to you, but this is a toxic friend that you need to let go of! If someone is so absorbed in their relationship and they never think about their friends, then the relationship is not healthy.
The unsupportive friend
You might always show up for this friend, whether it’s their band concert, art showcase, poetry slam, a sports game or just being there for their vulnerable times. However, when you accomplish something, they are never there to support you. They make up 100 excuses on why they can’t show up for you. This is a sign of a toxic friendship! Here’s a little advice, stop being there for people who wouldn’t think twice about showing up for you.
The friend who “guilt-trips you”
One of my biggest pet peeves is having someone around me who makes me feel bad for something I didn’t do. For example, if you express how you feel and that friend invalidates your feelings or makes you feel like you did something wrong. This is a big red flag in a friendship or relationship and you should not be around that person. No one should ever make you feel bad or feel like you’re a bad person. That person needs to self-reflect and learn how to be a better friend.
The gossip friend
Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure we all have listened to gossip before, but if that’s all your friend talks about, then that’s a problem. Usually, individuals who gossip a lot like to see other people miserable. And if they like to see other people miserable, then they are most likely praying for your downfall. If you have a friend like this, keep them at a distance, don’t tell them your business and try not to hang out with them as much.
There are more examples of toxic friends, but the ones I mentioned were the first ones I thought of. So, if you have a toxic friendship, it’s time to stop draining your energy and focus on yourself. We only manifest healthy friendship vibes over here!