How to Identify a Toxic Friendship

04 Feb How to Identify a Toxic Friendship

1. Always the Victim: If your friend consistently portrays herself as a victim in various situations, even minor ones, she might be seeking attention. Toxic individuals often exaggerate their problems to gain sympathy from others.

2. Only Talks About Herself: When she meets with you, the conversation revolves solely around her life and issues, showing no interest in yours. A lack of reciprocity in conversation is a sign of an imbalanced friendship.

3. Gossips About Everyone: If you find that your friend shares private information about others, she is likely to talk about you with others as well. Toxic friends enjoy spreading secrets and vulnerabilities.

4. Jealous of Your Other Friends: If she shows jealousy or criticises your other friendships, it’s a sign of insecurity and control. Such jealousy can impact how you relate to others and make you feel guilty for maintaining other friendships.

5. Feels Superior: When you achieve something positive and your friend responds by downplaying your success or making it about herself, it’s a sign of a toxic friendship. These individuals, often referred to as “frenemies,” seek to undermine others to feel better about themselves.

6. Unreasonable Demands: If every small mistake or slip-up leads to reproaches and anger, it may indicate emotional dependence. These outbursts create a cycle of guilt and distancing, which deteriorates the friendship.

In a healthy friendship, communication and support should be mutual. If you find yourself constantly justifying your actions or feeling your self-esteem affected, it may be time to reassess the relationship.