15 Signs of a Toxic Friendship That’ll Do You More Harm Than Good

• 2024-08-16
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Toxic friendships can drain your energy, harm your emotional well-being, and hold you back from personal growth. Here are 15 signs of a toxic friendship to watch out for:

1. Constant Drama

A toxic friend often brings unnecessary drama into your life, stirring up conflict or creating crises that drain your emotional energy.

2. Jealousy

If your friend seems envious of your success or happiness, instead of celebrating with you, it could be a sign of underlying toxicity.

3. Frequent Criticism

Toxic friends tend to criticize you constantly, often in subtle or passive-aggressive ways, making you feel insecure or inadequate.

4. They Take but Rarely Give

In toxic friendships, the balance is off. They expect you to give emotional support, time, or resources, but rarely reciprocate.

5. Lack of Respect for Boundaries

Toxic friends often overstep boundaries, ignoring your needs or wishes and making you feel uncomfortable or disrespected.

6. Gossip and Backstabbing

If your friend frequently gossips about you or others, or betrays your trust by talking behind your back, it’s a clear sign of toxicity.

7. Manipulation

Toxic friends may use emotional manipulation to control you or the friendship, often making you feel guilty or obligated to do things their way.

8. They Make You Feel Drained

Spending time with a toxic friend leaves you feeling emotionally exhausted or anxious rather than uplifted and supported.

9. They’re Unsupportive

A toxic friend may dismiss your achievements, downplay your successes, or even sabotage your efforts instead of offering encouragement and support.

10. They Compete with You

In a toxic friendship, the friend may see you as competition, always trying to one-up you rather than sharing in each other’s accomplishments.

11. Negativity and Complaining

Toxic friends tend to be overly negative, frequently complaining about their lives or your relationship, making it hard to enjoy the time spent together.

12. Lack of Trust

If you find that you can’t trust your friend with your secrets or feelings, or if they repeatedly break your trust, this is a sign of a toxic dynamic.

13. They Only Reach Out When They Need Something

If your friend only calls or texts when they need a favor but never checks in on you otherwise, the friendship may be one-sided and toxic.

14. They Don’t Celebrate Your Wins

A good friend celebrates your successes. If your friend seems uninterested, indifferent, or even resentful of your achievements, it’s a red flag.

15. You Feel Worse About Yourself After Being Around Them

If you often feel bad about yourself, doubt your worth, or second-guess your choices after spending time with a friend, that’s a strong indication of a toxic relationship.

Recognizing these signs is crucial to protecting your mental health and well-being. It’s important to reassess and potentially distance yourself from friendships that do more harm than good.