Just because you've been friends with someone for a long time isn't an excuse to remain friends with them if they are a toxic influence in your life.

1. When your conversations with your friend are not what they used to be, or they have stopped altogether.

Communication is key to any relationship, platonic or otherwise. If you're not communicating, you don't have a friendship.

2. All conversations with this person end up in fights or the other person making an issue out of anything you say.

Friends should be a positive influence in your life, not negative.

3. The conversations become one sided with no room for your own opinions.

If your friend is talking AT you instead of talking with you, it's time to re-evaluate this friendship. You're not a therapist paid to get talked AT all day! A conversation must be equal give and take between both parties. If you can't get a word in, and as soon as your friend is done venting they take off, without ever asking how you're doing, it's clear this person doesn't care about you.

4. You feel your friendship with this person is breaking down your ego or self-worth.

Friends are supposed to build you up and support you, not tear you down! If you feel worse with your friend than you do without them, that's a sign to cut them off.

5. If your friend is narcissistic or just plain selfish, they will always care about themselves way more than they care about you.

Friends truly care about each other! If your friend constantly makes you feel like you're unimportant, drop them!

6. Your friend only calls you when they need something from you.

If your friend only pops up when they need something from you, there is a good chance they don't value you. If your friendship feels like a transaction instead of a real connection, it's time to say goodbye. A friendship should be mutually supportive and beneficial.

7. Your friend talks about you behind your back.

Gossipy friends are not good friends. If your friend will gossip to you about someone else, there's a good chance they will gossip about you to others as well. Friends deserve trust and loyalty, not petty stuff.

8. You notice a huge difference in your friend.

People change in different stages in their life and sometimes with no warning. There is nothing you can do about this but move on.

9. Your friend limits contact with you when he or she gets a significant other.

If your friend drops you as soon as they get a boyfriend, they were never a true friend in the first place.

10. Your friend treats their other friends in their lives as more important than you.

11. If you share differences in opinions on certain topics or ideas that are important to you.

12. They don't play an important role in your life and your future.

13. When you realize that person is toxic to himself, herself and others around them.

14. You feel stressed and depressed around them.

Your friends should hype you up and make you feel good about yourself!

15. You put too much time and energy into the friendship with no results.

Friendship is a two-way street! If you're the only person putting in effort, it's time to break it off.

16. Most importantly, if you can not be yourself around this person then how can you be happy?

When people change for the worse this allows you to change for the better. I believe everyone who comes and goes in our lives teaches us valuable life's lessons and these lessons help self growth.