Girl, building and keeping friendships can be a real challenge. I’ve been there. You don’t have time in life to waste it on a toxic friend. According to Psychology Today, toxic friends can have a negative impact on our mental health and well-being. They may bring drama, create conflict, and drain our emotional energy. (Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-friendship-doctor/201906/7-signs-toxic-friend)
It takes effort and time to make them work. But listen, if they’re dragging you down and bringing negativity into your life, you need to consider whether they’re worth your energy. Toxic friendships can suck your life out of you and leave you feeling negative emotions. That’s why I did some digging and compiled a list of seven signs indicating you’re dealing with a toxic friend.
Trust me, toxic friends will drain you, make you feel unsupported, and mess with your mental health. They may cancel plans, talk behind your back, or try to sabotage your success. So, it’s time to recognize these signs and let go of toxic friends. You deserve better, and your mental health matters. It’s time to cultivate healthy relationships and thrive!
Drama and gossip surround her
We’ve all heard the saying, “drama follows drama,” and it couldn’t be truer when it comes to toxic friends.
If you find yourself with a friend who constantly gossips and creates drama, it’s time to re-evaluate the relationship.
Being around toxic friends can be emotionally and mentally exhausting. Their negativity can affect your mental health, and it’s crucial to prioritize your well-being.
Remember, you deserve to be surrounded by people who lift you up and make you feel good.
Gossip and drama are toxic and not worth your time or energy. Choose to spend your time with friends who inspire and encourage you to be the best version of yourself.
It’s not easy to let go of a friend, but sometimes it’s necessary for your growth and happiness.
Surround yourself with positive people who share your values and bring joy to your life.
And remember, it’s not about cutting people off; it’s about setting boundaries and prioritizing your well-being.
So, if you have a toxic friend in your life, it’s time to let go and make room for positive, uplifting relationships. Your mental and emotional health will thank you for it.
A toxic friend is always interrupting
When a friend is constantly interrupting, it can be a sign of a deeper issue. A toxic friend may interrupt you to steer the conversation to their own interests, or to belittle or dismiss your thoughts and feelings. This type of behavior can leave you feeling unheard, invalidated, and even resentful. It’s important to recognize the impact that a toxic friend’s interruptions can have on your relationship, and to address it if necessary.
If you find yourself being interrupted often, it’s okay to speak up and express your feelings. Set boundaries and communicate clearly about what you need from the friendship. If your friend continues to interrupt, it may be time to reevaluate the relationship and consider whether it’s worth the emotional toll.
Remember, a true friend will listen to you and respect your thoughts and feelings. They won’t constantly interrupt or dismiss what you have to say. Don’t let a toxic friend steal your voice and make you feel small. Surround yourself with friends who lift you up and empower you to be your best self.
In the end, it’s important to prioritize your own emotional well-being and happiness. Don’t settle for a toxic friendship that leaves you feeling drained and unheard. Be brave enough to let go of what’s not serving you, and make room for healthier, more fulfilling relationships in your life.
Aggressive with her opinions
When it comes to friends, we all want people in our lives who support us and lift us up. But what happens when a friend becomes aggressive with their opinions? It can be challenging to navigate, and it’s important to recognize the signs of a toxic friendship.
First and foremost, a toxic friend may not respect the opinions of others. They might believe that their answers are always the right ones and that their opinions are facts. This can lead to an overall hostile attitude towards subjects that the two of you see differently.
Furthermore, a toxic friend might always need to have the last word in a conversation, interrupting and talking over you. They might be unwilling to accept responsibility for their actions and tend to undermine you to make themselves look better.
Aggressive talking and defensive listening are also signs of a toxic friend. They might use language that’s confrontational and create an atmosphere of tension in the relationship. These traits can be exhausting and damaging to your mental health.
If you’re dealing with a friend who exhibits these behaviors, it’s essential to recognize the toxic nature of the relationship and set boundaries. You deserve to surround yourself with people who uplift you, not tear you down. Here’s a list of traits a toxic friend may have (a couple, many or even all):
- Disregards others’ opinions.
- Claims to always be right.
- Assumes opinions are facts.
- Hostile about disagreements.
- Always needs to have the final say.
- Refuses to take responsibility.
- Undermines and makes you look bad.
- Aggressive talking, defensive listening.
- Belittles or dismisses your feelings.
- Constantly puts you down or criticizes you.
- Is quick to anger or lash out.
- Uses guilt or manipulation to get their way.
- Makes you feel bad for setting boundaries.
- Takes advantage of your kindness or generosity.
- Blames others for their own mistakes.
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You’ve realized she has ulterior motives
Have you ever heard the term “frenemy?” I’ve learned the hard way; there are people out there who will pretend to be your friend but are secretly competing against you. She doesn’t want you to succeed. She will copy your ideas and pass them off as her own. She’s jealous. This is another time in life if you realize you have a friend with ulterior motives that are clearly wrong and unkind, leave the friendship behind.
Toxic friendships can be like a snake in the grass – hidden and dangerous. A friend with ulterior motives may seem charming and supportive, but underneath lies a hidden agenda. They may only be there to use you for their own gain, and once they’ve gotten what they want, they’ll slither away. It can be hard to spot these motives at first, but pay attention to how they behave around you and others. Do they only reach out when they need something? Are they constantly trying to one-up you or belittle your accomplishments? Trust your intuition and keep your guard up. Don’t let them manipulate you into doing something that doesn’t align with your values or goals. Remember, just like a snake in the grass, a toxic friend with ulterior motives can strike at any time.
Your friend has a victims mentality
A toxic friend with a victim’s mentality is always playing the victim card and never takes responsibility.
They have a habit of blaming everyone and everything for their problems, and they never learn from their mistakes. It’s like they’re stuck in quicksand and refuse to move, expecting someone else to pull them out.
They have a self-defeating attitude and believe the world is always against them. A toxic friend with a victim mentality will never celebrate your accomplishments because they’re too consumed with their own struggles. They bring negative energy to every interaction, leaving you drained and exhausted.
It’s important to recognize that being a good friend does not mean being a martyr to someone else’s misery. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is distance yourself from their negativity and encourage them to seek professional help. Don’t allow their victim mentality to drag you down; you have your own path to follow. Surround yourself with positive influences that will uplift and motivate you to reach your goals.
She brings you down
Having a toxic friend can be incredibly draining and emotionally exhausting. Their negative attitude and behavior can easily bring you down and impact your own well-being.
When you spend time with someone who is constantly complaining and looking at the world through a negative lens, it can start to rub off on you. You may begin to adopt their negative attitude and start to feel more pessimistic about things yourself.
A toxic friend may also put you down or make you feel inferior in order to boost their own ego. This can be especially harmful to your self-esteem and confidence, making you feel unworthy or inadequate.
If your toxic friend is constantly causing drama and conflict, it can also impact your own relationships and social life. You may find yourself caught up in their drama, and even become a target of their negativity and criticism.
It’s important to recognize the signs of a toxic friendship and take action to protect your own well-being. This may mean distancing yourself from the toxic friend or even ending the friendship altogether.
Remember that you deserve to be surrounded by positive and supportive people who lift you up and help you grow. Don’t let a toxic friend bring you down or hold you back from living your best life.
She regularly turns the conversation to focus on herself
Relationships are give and take, not a one-way street. If you have a friend who frequently turns the conversation to focus back on her (and usually, she’ll do it by interrupting – another sign of a toxic friend as mentioned above), it might be time to rid her from your life.
In closing, let’s be reminded to respect ourselves enough, to only keep people in our lives who encourage us to be a better version of ourselves. Or at least friends who love us unconditionally and respect us for who we are. Be a good friend to others, and if you’re a mother, surround yourself only with friends you would want your child to be like when they’re grown up. They’re always watching and absorbing everything and everyone in their environment. Chose your friends wisely.
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