Sometimes it's hard to tell when we're friends with someone because there really is a connection or just because we're too afraid to put an end to a friendship that doesn't work. It's the same with romantic partners, really.
Toxic people are often hard to recognize. But the thing is, they tend to drag us down with them, making our lives miserable. On the contrary, good friends make us feel better about ourselves and, also, help us become better and better.
So, if you struggle to understand when it's time to cut a person out of your life, here are six types of toxic friends:
1) The unreliable one
Dropping out of plans, being always late, and being irresponsible are not cute quirks or character traits.
An unreliable friend does not respect your time, which suggests they do not respect you.
They may even ditch your plans at the last minute for something or someone they think will be more exciting.
That kind of behavior hardly makes you feel valued, and it will decimate your self-esteem over time.
If somebody has developed the habit of flaking on you, just tell them that they make you feel as though they don't value your friendship.
You will soon find out how important you are to them.
2) The irresponsible one
Some people tend to engage in wild or even dangerous behaviors on a regular basis, and they even drag their friends down in the process.
Your friend may drink to excess every week, take drugs regularly, have a lot of unprotected sex, or go on mad spending sprees which leave them in debt – and wants you to join in.
This behavior can be hard to watch, and you might also find it difficult to avoid bowing to peer pressure.
There is nothing wrong with having fun, of course, but emotionally stable, responsible adults usually make better friends than people that never moved past their teenage rebellion phase.
3) The miserable one
Do you have a friend that always leaves you feeling pessimistic, down, or completely drained?
If so, you might have an energy vampire on your hands. Such people love to talk about their problems. They also focus on everything that's wrong in the world.
They're relentlessly cynical. Energy vampires are not always aware of their own behaviors. If one of their friends points out that they are a negative person, they might respond with genuine surprise.
An energy vampire can learn new habits, though. If you consider them a close friend, an honest conversation might help resolve the problem.
4) The drama queen
Drama queens may be entertaining in small doses, but they can quickly become tiring.
Attention-seekers inflate even the smallest problems into a major crisis, like to start rumors and post-dramatic statuses on social media only to make others notice them.
Their behavior is often childish and embarrassing.
They usually show reckless behaviors too, which makes for an exhausting double-whammy.
5) The "everything-is-a-competition" one
A little competition is healthy, but some like to take it to extremes.
A competitive friend always wants to have the best-paying job, the best-looking lover, the best grades, or the most accomplished kids.
Whenever you talk about yourself, they'll jump in and start to boast about their latest achievements.
They cannot offer you a meaningful friendship because they will only see you as a potential rival.
6) The one who doesn't really care
There is no point in being friends with somebody if it's always up to you to set plans, keep a conversation going, or remind them three times that your birthday is coming up next month.
While no friendship is perfectly balanced, you should never be doing all the work.
A true friend will actually want to see you and take steps to make it happen.
If you stop texting somebody and they don't seem to notice, it's safe to say that it's a one-sided relationship.
Breaking up with a friend, particularly if you've known them for a long time, can be upsetting.
You may need to give yourself time to mourn the friendship.
The good news is that there are many emotionally stable, fun people out there who would love to be your friend. Get out there and find them!
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