Making friends comes easier for some than others. The friendships we make throughout a lifetime play a major role in how we learn and grow as a person. Friendship is powerful and beautiful. The ugly truth is that not everyone you befriend has the best intentions for your so-called friendship. Here a few red flags to look out for when you sense a toxic friend.
The User
This is the type of person who uses you for what they want and or need. This can be anything from using you for the objects you possess such as a gaming system. A toxic friend you invite over would be more interested in the game than you. It could be things you may have access to such as a car. A toxic friend will play the role of being your friend just to use you as their personal taxi. When the object they're using you for is removed they suddenly become distant or completely shut you out altogether. Beyond materialistic objects, people may be using you for who you are as a person. If you find yourself always being tugged at by a friend only when they are in need of company, an ear to rant to, advice or only need you to walk over your kindness. A true friend would love you for you, not the things you possess nor use you only for when their feeling lonely.
The Brick Wall
This friend makes the defining selfish look like child's play. If asked they would never be able to recall anything about you. News flash they could care less about you. They seem to tune out anything you're saying when you do open up to them. You'd be better off talking to a brick wall, at least then you wouldn't have to worry about falling for a fake friend who's pretending to listen. A real friend genuinely cares about your well being and wants to know more than how to help themselves but what actually interests you.
The Soap Opera
This type of friend lives for the drama but not without giving you the main part beside them in their show. Being friends with this type requires extreme work to keep them happy. They always seem to be upset with you over the smallest of things and aren't shy about letting you know. Silent treatments, dramatic text messages, cold looks rather than greetings in passing and even jealousy when you're hanging out with anyone else besides them. Often times they kill your vibe with a new drama each time an old one is resolved or when they get tired of acting one out and move onto to the next. To make matters worse they may go further by spreading the drama to mutual friends and associates or posting to social media. This friend is hard to keep up with and isn't worth the energy.
Chances are when you have a friend like this you have more stories and memories of misery than you do good times. They may make you feel like you've done something wrong by throwing a tantrum, in attempts to guilt trip you. You may find yourself constantly apologizing, when in fact you’ve done absolutely nothing to them. Distancing this friend is probably one of the hardest because you feel like your in the wrong. A friendship like this can mess with your self worth and self esteem. Although it may be the hardest type of friendship to leave it's also a very toxic one. Reality check, the only drama you have time for is the one that you watch on television.
These types of toxic friendships are just to name a few. If you begin to sense that a friendship may be doing more harm than good take it as a warning. Pay close attention to the foundation of the friendship, it's morals, their behavior as well as the give and take from you and the so called friend. It's also important to never allow yourself to be the friend of a toxic friend. You'd be better off having one less friend than having a toxic one.
