signs your friendship is toxic | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Relationships

9 Signs Your friendship Is Toxic

You hear about toxic relationships, but what about toxic friendships?

508
9 Signs Your friendship Is Toxic
annelizaohara's instagram

My friends are my rock and my lifeline. Along with my family, they're always there for me. But in my past, I've noticed some of my friends started acting a little odd. It wasn't until I took a step back, did I realize my relationship with my friend was bad. We see warning signs about bad relationships with partners all the time but we forget about our relationships with our friends.

1. You can't trust them

Ever tell a friend a secret and then instantly regret it when you hear it from someone else? A red flag in friendships is not being able to trust and abide in your friend because they'll just turn around and share your secrets with someone else. I shared with a friend in high school a major secret in my life, one they promised to keep, only to get a Twitter message from an acquaintance asking me about it.

2. They're unhappy constantly...and want you to be too

There's a difference between being sad, upset, and depressed and constantly being unhappy. If your friend is constantly unhappy and fails to find anything positive about anything ever, they might not be right for you. This isn't to say you have to be friends with constantly happy people, people are allowed to have a full range of emotions. But if they are constantly tearing down everything around them, you'll be next.

3. They bully you

I once had a friend who I loved dearly, and every time we were alone it was wonderful. But as soon as I and this friend hung out with a group of people, either their friends, mine, or our mutual ones, they would constantly make fun of me. I even had an old roommate come up to me at a party and ask if my friend and I were fighting...we weren't. When I called them out on this behavior, their response was that "large groups made them uncomfortable and they took it out on me." How is that okay?

4. They're resentful

There is truly nothing worse than a friend who constantly brings up every argument, fight, or wrong doing you have ever committed against them. Because nothing is worse than having a perfectly good conversation be ruined by them bringing up the time you got in a fight over who pays for the Uber. If they constantly are bringing up everything that's gone wrong, they'll probably forget everything that's gone right.

5. They act like they're too good for you

If you have a friend who constantly puts down your clothing, food, job, and/or life choices solely on the basis of "not being good enough", you're probably going to have a bad time. They became friends with you for a reason, so judging someone they consider a friend is a really low blow.

6. They gossip about your other friends

If they gossip about your other friends, they're gossiping about you. You aren't special. If they care so little about their other friends, they probably don't care about you either.

7. They discredit you

If they constantly question, argue, or discredit everything you say, they're pretty much subconsciously calling you a liar and saying they don't trust your judgment. This causes an uncomfortable gap between the two of you because someone constantly calling you wrong (even if you know you're right) makes you feel terrible.

8. It's only about them

I get it, sometimes you want to talk about yourself. But if your friendship constantly revolves around one person and they don't want to talk about you, then you aren't their friend, you're their therapist. A friendship is two-sided, share the attention or dump the friend.

9. They're embarrassed to be with you

If you have a friend that is constantly dropping plans, abandoning you at parties or events, or straight up avoiding you, you might have a friend who doesn't want to be with you. If they don't want to be seen with you in public or introduce you to their friends, they're not a good friend or a good person.

Toxic friends can be just as bad as toxic relationships. Lots of people, myself included, keep our toxic friends in our lives because let's be real....breaking up with friends is hard! We would rather keep that negative person in our lives than initiate a breakup. In my opinion, breaking up with friends can be even worse than breaking up with a partner.

Hard as it may be, it's time to cut that negative person out of your life and thrive!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

178517
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

5723
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

451482
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

22725
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments