We feel exhausted, annoyed, and disillusioned with toxic friends. Toxic friends often don't realise their actions damage us, making us feel worse.
It's crucial to recognise these behaviours and impose limitations on others' negative behaviour. How can toxic friendships be identified and resolved?
A healthy friendship requires respect and support. The relationship with a toxic buddy is more selfish and troublesome. People have trouble forming healthy relationships when this happens.
These poisonous relationships generally involve verbal or physical hostility and manipulation to acquire something from the other person.
Toxic friendships are usually like this, but we all do it sometimes. They hurt their neighbours as a result.
A poisonous friend has no typical traits. Many attitudes and behaviours can destroy a friendship. Some common hazardous indicators are:
You're often teased: Friends must encourage you. Thus, being taunted or humiliated by a buddy indicates a toxic connection. Friends shouldn't criticise you frequently.
We want your whole attention because a friend can't rely on you. A friendship that tells you it can't do anything without you is harmful.
Another person is always the victim: If someone is constantly the victim, they may have a problem. Thus, a toxic friendship occurs when that person is the centre of attention notwithstanding your issue.
Toxic friends don't respect your thoughts and pressure you to do stuff. These people will try to force you to do anything. If you've stopped drinking, this person will try to get you to drink when you see them.
No respect for your boundaries: Everyone struggles with respect. Real friends will help you if your request makes sense. However, disrespecting limits is a destructive indicator of friendship.
We're jealous of your other friends: A toxic friend will be jealous and frustrated if you have other important people. They will do whatever to eliminate this individual from your group.
Give more than you get: All friendships are one-sided. Both parties must feel equal, giving and receiving. Your friendship may be poisonous if you feel like you're giving too much and they're not trying.
Cancelling plans relieves you: If you're happier without your poisonous pal, something's wrong. Thus, a toxic friendship may make you feel insecure or fearful when they contact you.
All friendships should be based on trust. When you share personal information with a toxic buddy, you may feel suspicious. Repeatedly feeling this way is another sign.
You feel compelled to be their friend: Some toxic friends sustain relationships through emotional abuse. Beware if they perform pranks to hurt you, put you down in front of others, act differently around others, or test your loyalty.
Feeling competitive with the person: True friends celebrate each other's wins. They are inspired by others achieving their goals. Toxic friendships aim to be better at everything, even if it's not their speciality, and use those feelings to tear you down and make them feel better.
After spending time with them, you feel emotionally and physically fatigued. This may indicate a poisonous friendship. Being continuously on guard for their attitudes exhausts you in every way.
As we can see, toxic friendships can harm your mental health, thus they must be identified. These interactions may also impair other vital relationships or activities since they take up so much time.